We loved Dear Daphni. The decor was beautiful, our server was both fun and well informed, and the food and drinks were excellent. Loved the Persian Paloma, the smoked beet and pistachio mint mezze, hamachi crudo, and lamb kofta. Everyone there went out of their way to create a great experience. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ekaterina Porokhina
We got all of the appetizers, a few entrees and an extra side for 6 people, it was just the right amount of food and everything tasted great. Our server was especially cautious about the food restrictions (celiac). I also very liked the music choice!
We had a reservation for 9:15pm and didn’t get seated until 9:55pm. We did receive a free starter due to the long wait. The food was good as well as the drinks, but not something I would go back for. It was extremely loud, but the staff were pleasant.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Brian Reagan
We had a great time experience. Yoshi was our fantastic bartender and we can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Evana Patel
Beautiful restaurant with such a beautiful aesthetic. However, dinner felt rushed. The waiter told us the mezze can only be refilled once, and quickly cleared the table although we were working on our food still. There were several open tables at the restaurant so I didn’t understand the rush. Additionally, we weren’t given a choice for the sauces for our entree. I think there needs to be some changes to make this place better.
Louise Littlefair
Great new spot! Delicious food, really great for sharing. (Similar to Lazer wolf). Wine by the glass choices were great and our waitress was excellent. Will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Kebab, Mezze Platter
Carolyn Blatstein
Can't wait to go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Noel Abejo
Dear Daphni lived up to my expectations and then some. From the moment you step inside, the dining area transports you to a stylish, retro setting reminiscent of the 1950s and early ’60s, with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
For a Tuesday night, the restaurant was impressively busy, which I’ve heard is the norm throughout the week—so plan ahead if you want to snag a table.
The starters alone are enough to tempt you into making a meal out of them. We indulged in Moroccan meatballs, Turkish dumplings, and tuna tartare, each dish expertly prepared and packed with flavor. For entrées, we went with the lamb and salmon, both cooked to perfection and beautifully presented.
Beyond the food, the service was impeccable—attentive without being intrusive. Given the location in Center City, the pricing is reasonable, making it a great spot for a high-quality meal without breaking the bank.
Final verdict: If you’re looking for a restaurant that combines delicious Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, a unique vintage ambiance, and top-notch service, Dear Daphni is a must-visit.
Amazing atmosphere and great vibe for any occasion. The food was also delicious and fresh. The mezze platter was fantastic and I highly recommend the chicken kebabs as well. However, the kebab portions were especially small for the price so I would recommend get 2 plates of each, especially if you’re sharing with a group. Rate 9 overall and would go back again.
There was nothing about Dear Daphni we didn't love. The space is sexy and inviting, the staff is attentive and friendly, the cocktails are perfect and the food is absolutely delicious. No wonder Apollo was pursuing her.
Dear Daphni is amazing. Easily one of the best restaurants in center city, and the amount of food you get for the price is unmatched compared to other places in the area. The service is also fabulous. 10/10 recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shehla Hasan
I cannot rave enough about this place. The details start from the moment you walk in being greeted by such attentive and nice staff and taking in such beautiful ambiance. My friend and I wanted to check this spot out and we were not disappointed. The food was so flavorful, delicious, and plentiful that we both just stopped talking to savor each tender and fresh bite — yes it was that good. The waiters and waitresses were SO friendly and knew so much about the food. Our waitress, Anna, was friendly and so personable, her recommendations were on point. And, the MEZZE platter WON!! I love that platter — so delicious with such a variety of hummus, beet dip, cucumber yogurt, muharra, etc etc. The lamb kofta entree was tender, and turkish dumplings so flavorful along with the moroccan meatballs, the salmon… you name it. Highly recommend this place. Every detail was accounted for.
Cool colorful vibrant vibe! Server was good but very clear they are being pushed to sell vs offering an experience - they should read the “unstoppable hospitality”. They asked to place the full meal all at once. Food gets cold quick since they bring all at once. Food is just ok. Turkish dumplings were cold and not good. If you are looking for those amazing meals that Philadelphia restaurants offer this is not your place. My summary is: underwhelming
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Baozhen “Bao” Huang
Beautiful ambiance, great service, but the food was really disappointing.
This is probably one of the prettiest new restaurants in Philadelphia. The interior design is adorable—super cute and very Instagrammable. I just wish I could say the same about their food.
We started with the crudo and Turkish dumplings. The crudo was fine, but nothing memorable. The Turkish dumplings, though, were a huge miss. They were more like oversized ravioli served in tomato sauce. After visiting Türkiye recently, I learned that traditional Turkish dumplings (manti) are small and usually served with yogurt on top. The smaller the dumpling, the more skillful the chef. If you’re craving good Turkish dumplings, I’d recommend Pera—they do an amazing job.
For mains, we tried the steak kebab, lamb kebab, salmon, and prawns. The prawns were a major letdown—big in size but dry and completely lacking flavor. It seemed like they were over-fried because there was no juice left in the heads. The steak kebab was tough, chewy, and bland, so I’d skip that entirely. The salmon was okay, but honestly, nothing special—you could probably make it at home. The lamb kebab was the best of the entrees, but it still wasn’t on par with what you’d get at Suraya.
I had high hopes for this place, but I don’t think I’ll return unless they improve their food. It’s a shame because the space is so gorgeous.
We loved Dear Daphni. The decor was beautiful, our server was both fun and well informed, and the food and drinks were excellent. Loved the Persian Paloma, the smoked beet and pistachio mint mezze, hamachi crudo, and lamb kofta. Everyone there went out of their way to create a great experience. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We got all of the appetizers, a few entrees and an extra side for 6 people, it was just the right amount of food and everything tasted great. Our server was especially cautious about the food restrictions (celiac). I also very liked the music choice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dumplings, Chicken Thigh Kebab
We had a reservation for 9:15pm and didn’t get seated until 9:55pm. We did receive a free starter due to the long wait. The food was good as well as the drinks, but not something I would go back for. It was extremely loud, but the staff were pleasant.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
We had a great time experience. Yoshi was our fantastic bartender and we can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful restaurant with such a beautiful aesthetic. However, dinner felt rushed. The waiter told us the mezze can only be refilled once, and quickly cleared the table although we were working on our food still. There were several open tables at the restaurant so I didn’t understand the rush. Additionally, we weren’t given a choice for the sauces for our entree. I think there needs to be some changes to make this place better.
Great new spot! Delicious food, really great for sharing. (Similar to Lazer wolf). Wine by the glass choices were great and our waitress was excellent. Will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lamb Kebab, Mezze Platter
Can't wait to go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dear Daphni lived up to my expectations and then some. From the moment you step inside, the dining area transports you to a stylish, retro setting reminiscent of the 1950s and early ’60s, with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
For a Tuesday night, the restaurant was impressively busy, which I’ve heard is the norm throughout the week—so plan ahead if you want to snag a table.
The starters alone are enough to tempt you into making a meal out of them. We indulged in Moroccan meatballs, Turkish dumplings, and tuna tartare, each dish expertly prepared and packed with flavor. For entrées, we went with the lamb and salmon, both cooked to perfection and beautifully presented.
Beyond the food, the service was impeccable—attentive without being intrusive. Given the location in Center City, the pricing is reasonable, making it a great spot for a high-quality meal without breaking the bank.
Final verdict: If you’re looking for a restaurant that combines delicious Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, a unique vintage ambiance, and top-notch service, Dear Daphni is a must-visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dumplings, Lamb Shank, Tuna Tartare, Mezze Platter, Meatballs, Rice Pilaf
Amazing atmosphere and great vibe for any occasion. The food was also delicious and fresh. The mezze platter was fantastic and I highly recommend the chicken kebabs as well. However, the kebab portions were especially small for the price so I would recommend get 2 plates of each, especially if you’re sharing with a group. Rate 9 overall and would go back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Thigh Kebab, Lamb Kebab, Mezze Platter, Soft Serve Dessert, Rice Pilaf
There was nothing about Dear Daphni we didn't love. The space is sexy and inviting, the staff is attentive and friendly, the cocktails are perfect and the food is absolutely delicious. No wonder Apollo was pursuing her.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
10/10 spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dear Daphni is amazing. Easily one of the best restaurants in center city, and the amount of food you get for the price is unmatched compared to other places in the area. The service is also fabulous. 10/10 recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I cannot rave enough about this place. The details start from the moment you walk in being greeted by such attentive and nice staff and taking in such beautiful ambiance. My friend and I wanted to check this spot out and we were not disappointed. The food was so flavorful, delicious, and plentiful that we both just stopped talking to savor each tender and fresh bite — yes it was that good. The waiters and waitresses were SO friendly and knew so much about the food. Our waitress, Anna, was friendly and so personable, her recommendations were on point. And, the MEZZE platter WON!! I love that platter — so delicious with such a variety of hummus, beet dip, cucumber yogurt, muharra, etc etc. The lamb kofta entree was tender, and turkish dumplings so flavorful along with the moroccan meatballs, the salmon… you name it. Highly recommend this place. Every detail was accounted for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dumplings, Lamb Kebab, Mezze Platter, Lamb Sausage, Meatballs, Rice Pilaf
Cool colorful vibrant vibe!
Server was good but very clear they are being pushed to sell vs offering an experience - they should read the “unstoppable hospitality”.
They asked to place the full meal all at once. Food gets cold quick since they bring all at once.
Food is just ok. Turkish dumplings were cold and not good. If you are looking for those amazing meals that Philadelphia restaurants offer this is not your place.
My summary is: underwhelming
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Beautiful ambiance, great service, but the food was really disappointing.
This is probably one of the prettiest new restaurants in Philadelphia. The interior design is adorable—super cute and very Instagrammable. I just wish I could say the same about their food.
We started with the crudo and Turkish dumplings. The crudo was fine, but nothing memorable. The Turkish dumplings, though, were a huge miss. They were more like oversized ravioli served in tomato sauce. After visiting Türkiye recently, I learned that traditional Turkish dumplings (manti) are small and usually served with yogurt on top. The smaller the dumpling, the more skillful the chef. If you’re craving good Turkish dumplings, I’d recommend Pera—they do an amazing job.
For mains, we tried the steak kebab, lamb kebab, salmon, and prawns. The prawns were a major letdown—big in size but dry and completely lacking flavor. It seemed like they were over-fried because there was no juice left in the heads. The steak kebab was tough, chewy, and bland, so I’d skip that entirely. The salmon was okay, but honestly, nothing special—you could probably make it at home. The lamb kebab was the best of the entrees, but it still wasn’t on par with what you’d get at Suraya.
I had high hopes for this place, but I don’t think I’ll return unless they improve their food. It’s a shame because the space is so gorgeous.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
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