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**“

“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! ❤️“

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

“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“

“Great food! Great service!“

“Delicious food. Friendly people.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Went tonight as a group of 4. The owner was also our server and he was very kind and very funny. It feels like he’s hosting a big party in his living room. We shared 3 apps (octopus, artichoke, and the shrimp special) and we each had our own entree. Plus we shared 2 desserts. With tip, the price was very affordable for such an excellent meal.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“A favorite local spot. The Halibut special was so fresh and flavorful, the branzino and octopus are always great choices. The chef takes pride in everything he prepares for the table. The service is professional and friendly and the space is cozy and clean.“

“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!“

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

“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!!!“

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

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

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

“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!“

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

“Only 1 item on the menu- $20, cash only.
And it is the best $20 you can spend on a food truck in Philadelphia. In a portion easily feeding 2 people, this falafel truck is worth every bit of praise and acclaim it gets.
Gus is one of the kindest people you will meet, and he is constantly mixing up his dish to surprise you with a combination of chicken, falafel, pasta, veggies and fruit that will make you ask how in the world anyone could make such a combination work so effortlessly.
10/10“

“Had a great experience at CAVA! Jay was super sweet and made the whole visit enjoyable. He was helpful, welcoming, and took the time to make sure everything was exactly how I wanted it. The bowl was delicious, fresh, and the flavors were amazing. Great customer service — I’ll definitely be back!“

“Just had an excellent lunch at CAVA in Suburban Square, Ardmore! The build-your-own bowl was fresh and flavorful — I went with the grilled chicken, crazy feta, roasted veggies, and their addictive tzatziki. Portions are generous, everything tasted super fresh, and the service was quick and friendly. Perfect spot for a healthy, delicious Mediterranean meal in a convenient location. Highly recommend! Will definitely be back“

“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“

“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!“

“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!!!!!! The food, chicken, meatballs, yellow rice AND the corn salad was sooooo delicious. I believe it was the owner who waited on my daughter & me. He was so pleasant, delightful & engaging. I love Mediterranean food & this restaurant was the absolute best. My taste buds were so happy😋“

“delicious samosas and beryani“

“Sahara Grill was absolutely amazing! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Everything had great seasoning, generous portions, and that homemade, authentic taste that makes you want to come back again. The service was friendly, welcoming, and attentive from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, perfect for a casual meal with family or friends. I highly recommend Sahara Grill to anyone looking for delicious Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food in Philadelphia. Definitely a place worth visiting again!“

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

“Tabouli cuisine is the absolute best! All of the food is fresh with each dish better than the previous. The people are friendly and will guide you to a new favorite.Every purchase is the best meal of the day. Be sure to say hello to Ataa or Hamza when you stop by!“

“Excellent chicken shnitzel wraps!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

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

“Red lentils, lamb, and pomegranate lassi were great. Looking forward to going back!“

“Amazing food! Can’t wait to go 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“

“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.“

“First Ill start with the pros - the staff Katelyn and Fiona were soo sweet, attentive, and welcoming. Katelyn wasn’t even our assigned server for the night but she made our evening! The view is beautiful and the building that it’s in is so cool. We were sat down right away for our reservation and the food was really tasty. We were overall very satisfied and would return most definitely.

Now for the cons - I would have to agree the serving sizes are small for the price point truly. The food tasted yummy so it didnt necessarily bug us too much, but I definitely would recommend coming here only for a light dinner/ appetizers with drinks type of place. For example the fish we got was $75 (market price) and the pasta was a few bites per person for a full size. Definitely wouldn’t recommend a group of more than four people just based on the seating. Overall I think coming here for a date, birthday or nice dinner is a wonderful experience and I hope that the staff get the appreciation they deserve.“

“Without a doubt one of the friendliest people in Philadelphia serving up some of the best and freshest halal you can find. I go 2-3 times a week and singlehandedly keeps me fed on my days off from work. I cannot even begin to say how great the food and service is as there is simply nothing else like it in Philadelphia. Lamb/rice combo with extra white and red will turn any bad day into a good one.“

“Fresh and delicious food! First time visiting and will be back very soon. Order anything Chargrilled on the menu and be happy!“

“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,“