Philos

Philo’s has great food and drinks at good prices. The space is also very cool. My only suggestion is to take better care to keep the floors clean. It was not off-​putting, but it didn’t match the otherwise clean looks of the place.
I would definitely recommend Philo’s for a casual meal. Next time in DC, I will be back and bring some friends.

Lovely brunch spot in an appealing environment. Food options were limited, yet every it was delicious and portions are very generous. The best part is the open bar which includes mimosas, sangria, beer, rail drinks, and even wine! Staff is very attentive and on top of clearing tables. Unlimited Brunch comes in at $ 35 making this place a steal.

Philos is a cute little tapas place right on Mass Avenue. The interior is really cute, but the outdoor seating is significantly better (assuming you don’t mind the inevitable noise). Prices are a hair high, but that’s not unusual for DC.
The mezze here ranges from good to fantastic. The pulled chicken tacos are delicious, thanks mostly to the fact that they are stuffed with meat. The croquettes were equally excellent, and perhaps my favorite dish. The grilled calamari and the mushroom dishes were decent, but definitely nothing special.
The cocktails here aren’t really impressive and seemed a bit overpriced. I imagine this might be more of a sangria sort of place.
I’d definitely come here again, if only for the tacos and croquettes.

Currently visiting D.C. with some colleagues and stopped at this restaurant for dinner. We were overly impressed with the service and the food was so flavorful! Also, all of the food is made in-​house. I highly recommend it!

I rarely give 5 stars to a place, but I have to here. Why? 2 words. The Fries… I love fries… who doesn’t? But, it’s been a while since I’ve been served perfectly crisp golden brown fries. I was today… Here… At philos… Yum! (i took pictures. I never take pictures of my food)
There were some complaints about the fries in other reviews. Maybe that was a bad day… Maybe philos read the review and stepped it up. I don’t know, but I hope they will always serve fries like this.
Of course for 5 stars, a little more than the fries should count, and it does. I had an amazing serving of babaganoush and the chicken shawarma wrap. Oh! The wrap, so garlickie. I love garlic and would be disappointed if I left a Mediterranean spot not reeking of garlic.
I finished it off with a Turkish coffee… Well, Lebanese actually, served the same way. And it was the perfect finish.
The server was also sweet and efficient. I was there for a late lunch though and was the only one in the restaurant, so it would be easy to make sure I had everything I needed.
I don’t go to philos enough. Even though I live right around the corner. The place has had several changeovers in the past few years, which always concerns me. And, when I walk by, I always found it remarkably empty compared to other spots in the area. That time is over. I will likely return again and again.
Now I need to go exercise so I can work off all those fries.

Philos has had so many owners in the past four years one could jump to the conclusion the place is hexed. They would be wrong. Great food great location and amazing staff.

The reason this place got 3 stars is because the staff is friendly and I like the décor. However, the food was average at best and it just took forever. The selection on the menu really leaves something to be desired. I had a glass of wine, a beer, a salad, and zucchini «fritters» and the total was $ 39. Not worth it, I would never go back, but I went for my friends birthday.

Great atmosphere. Very friendly and accompanying staff. Food was incredible. Would recommend the grilled calamari, chicken skewers and falafel. Red Sangria was also delicious!

This review is for brunch.
Summary (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars):
Food: 2 stars
Drinks: 2 stars
Atmosphere: 5 stars
Service: 5 stars
Price: 2 stars
I don’t like to write negative reviews, but I want to be honest here. Philos brunch was really disappointing. We did the all-​inclusive bottomless thang. $ 35. Bottomless food and drinks.
Food: Wasn’t good. They technically did have the standard things– a couple omelettes, a couple benes, french toast, and event crepes. I guess it’s a good thing we were doing bottomless though, because if I had tried to just order the omelette and be satisfied, it wouldn’t be nearly enough. The best thing was the grilled cheese, but it still was very basic– ya know, bread and cheese. Oh also, there where «chocolate pancakes» on the menu, but when we ordered them, they are actually regular packages with a few chocolate chips. Overall just underwhelming.
Drinks: Also meh. The bloody mary was ok, actually had some decent flavor but again nothing special or memorable. Only garnish was a lime wedge. The mimosas were really sugary (is it fake orange juice??) with very little champagne. I wish I could have just ordered wine. Wouldn’t want to come and just order one of these drinks.
Atmosphere: Super cute! Smaller than I pictured. Floor to ceiling windows let in great sunlight. This would be a great place to come for happy hour or a casual glass of wine. It would also be a great place to rent out for an event.
Service: The staff was fantastic. Very friendly and attentive. The nice people are why I wish I was writing a better review. Great people though.
Price: Not worth the price. I left wanting to go out to lunch. Not because I was hungry, but because none of the food or drinks were satisfying.
Cool neighborhood spot, but just not good at the F&B part. I would not go back for brunch, but great service, cute place.

Went on a Sunday afternoon for a late brunch. Split some hummus and order French toast. Hummus was good. Took a while to get our actual food. French toast was fine, but the maple syrup had a very strange consistency. Not sure I’d go back for brunch. May try for dinner but won’t make an extra effort. Service was just ok.

I have been going to Philos ever since it opened, also helps that I live right above the restaurant. But today I experienced something that I can only describe as akin to what the Marcel Proust described in his masterpiece In Search of Lost Time. Proust described how his main character has a wave of involuntary memory after eating a Madeleine cake dipped in tea. For me it was the perfect bite of pecan pie with rich black coffee. Sitting outside in among the golden yellow leaves falling in the evening the sweet crunch of the candied pecans.
Trust me when I say that normally I am a cold hearted bastard and far from sentimental, but there was something about the desserts at Philos. The first bite of their pecan pie with ice cream made me want to scream at providence and the universe for letting me forget simple pleasures. The second bite with a sip of coffee made me want to dance in an endless waltz with this city. A second sip of coffee and spoonful of the ice cream taught me how to laugh again at the ridiculous nature of the human experience.
Philos is a neighborhood joint it is a place to have that second bottle of wine, to sit in the middle of a crowded city, to celebrate being human, to lament the passing of the seasons, and rejoice in meeting new people.
My advice is, if weather permits and even if it is a bit nippy, sit outside. Don’t rush or try to force it, Philos will cast a spell on you. The food is even on the worst nights decent, the service is bewitching, that perfect mix of friendliness yet reserve that you can only find in the Gion district of Kyoto. Take your time Philos is of the old world, you have to visit at least three times before the spell is cast. Also if you want a bit of kick get the Turkish Coffee. Don’t worry about going alone, it will be that place where you don’t mind being alone.
As I write this review I keep wondering why I am not smelling burnt toast, the rational part of me knows that I have had some kind of stroke. Yet, the only thing I can find odd about myself is that I still have a faint smile and my steps feel a bit lighter… then again a few glasses of wine may do that to you, but hell if drinking and eating at Philos makes me happy enough said, another glass of wine it is!

I’ll start with the good and point out the service was nice. Seated quickly, and at an enjoyable window seat. The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, did all he could to make our dining experience as it should have been. But he could not make up for the performance of the kitchen the evening we were there.
I’m more than willing to accept not every dish at a tapas restaurant will be outstanding; but when I have to find a reason to like even one dish, there is a problem. We ordered a couple of the happy hour specials and a few items from the regular menu. The over-​riding problem with all the food was a failure to understand how to cook the food.
The cheese plate, not involving cooking, was ok. Only one of the cheeses gave me pause, in that way an enjoyable cheese causes you to marvel at the magic of cheese making. That might have been the high point. The cheese-​filled hush puppies, though not flawed, lacked a solid fried dough crunch, to me a hallmark of a hush puppy.
I started to get worried when the hand-​cut fries arrived. They were hot, I’ll give them that. But they were pale, without a hint of golden brown, nor the crisp exterior one hopes for in a fried, salty snack. A proper fry should be twice fried; these looked, felt and tasted like the second, hotter bath in oil was foregone.
The «zucchini fritters» we’re just sad. A soggy mess without taste. Let me say no more of them, least their memory come flooding back.
I will pick a restaurant because they serve Brussel Sprouts. I grew up with them and love them cooked all sorts of ways. But a key component of a BS dish is that they be cooked. The chef at Philos doesn’t appear to share this view. They arrived at best warmed from the heat that had browned the outer leaves. But the cores were sometimes warm, and completely raw. Not a trace of softening, nor the reduction in bitterness the heat brings. I did bring this to the attention of our waiter, who did most graciously take them back and have the kitchen try again. He brings them back, promising this bowl is as it should be. And they were the same. I noticed the stalks haven’t been trimmed nor sliced. Even I know this must be done if you want the cores to cook, even the slightest. They feel Brussel Sprouts are best served undercooked.
On to the main dish. We came here in part to enjoy the Grilled Octopus. The waiter suggested we select a backup; he doubted the octopus was in stock and we chose the Seared Sea Scallops. In the end, we ordered the Mussels. They were acceptable, some over cooked, others cooked through but still soft. But why include (stale) bread when there is no sauce?
It was a Wednesday evening in a not busy restaurant and you don’t have two of the obviously desirable seafood dishes available? That makes me question how the kitchen is run.
The staff could tell I was most disappointed in our meal. A restaurant in this part should expect to be held to a decent standard; I’m not out at a suburban strip mall. I was offered the excuse of a new cook; his first night in fact. That’s no way to run a restaurant. It’s staffing issues are its own. I expect a good meal regardless. This excuse, combined with the incompleteness of the menu options gives me concern for the way the restaurant is run. I hope not a fatal flaw, but that leaves me crossing it off my list of dinner options in this neck of the woods.
I’ll close by saying I’m not a bitchy or too difficult a diner. But I know my way around a kitchen and when I go out to eat, I expect to be reminded I’m a mere amateur. Not feeling for less money I could have stayed at home and done better.

Amazing! I’ve always just had great drinks here, but last night, I had the pleasure of actually dining at Philos. I started off with a cocktail named Punch Out which had me feeling like I was spending Labor Day weekend in the Caribbean! A powerhouse of a drink!
Food wise, our table ordered the cheese and charcuterie board. All of us ordered a variation of one of their combination entrees (I ordered the seafood and 2 vegetables combination). I was amazed by the pure deliciousness of everything from the broth of my mussels to the delightfully seasoned mushrooms and brussel sprouts. I tasted the other yummy vegetables around the table and was really impressed by the large portions. All while dining al fresco!
I should’ve dined here a long time ago and now must make up for lost time. I am planning on going to Philos for Labor Day brunch. Thank you to our wonderful server Jonathan and to Ziad and Talal for making our visit to Philos a memorable experience.

I like the calamari, and the beef skewer is also not bad. But it’s tooooo little for me… not enough for a meat lover

Great ambiance for a date nite. I ordered;
Cheese water melon. So small portionbut good taste babaganusj (very good)
Calamari– great
Octopus salad — personal favorite!
Half Bronzino — great
Salmon– great.
Cream Pudding– excellent
All food taste delicious and Melissa was friendly and sweet.

I visited Philos for Brunch on Saturday with my kickball team and loved it! First of, I will start with giving our amazing server, Jonathan 6 stars! He did an amazing job with his co worker handling a group of 25 hungry and alcohol thirsty crowd. He consistently kept the mimosas, bloody marys and sangrias flowing, you were never allowed to have a half empty glass under his watch!
Jonathan suggested we all just get the bottomless brunch deal so everyone got to pick an assortment of food items from the menu and boy did we feast! Just when you thought you couldn’t eat another crêpe or omelet another came your way!
The brunch menu was your average eggs and crepes selection nothing that really stood out as a Greek specialty to me. They did have hummus dip, babaganoush, greek yogurt and a delicious feta spread to eat with pita or bread.
Overall, after two spilled mimosas and countless bottomless drinks and food we were all satisfied. And a special thanks to the staff for playing our request of «We Are the Champions» :)

Philos offers a nicely decorated interior, beautiful patio that will be even nicer when the Mass Ave construction finally ends, ½ off wine bottles, and tasty small plates (they also have a great boozey brunch). The staff was very friendly, the outside patio is pet-​friendly, and prices are reasonable.
We ordered the spread sampler (feta, yogurt, and baba ghannouj), grilled kafta (meat with grilled tomato and yogurt sauce), fried eggplant (with yogurt and pine nuts), bronzed salmon filet (cilantro, pesto, figs, and molasses), and the flaming kefalograviera (cognac lemon and cheese on fire). The food was good, and a good alternative if you cannot get into Zaytinya for similar food. We especially liked the kafta and the spread sampler. While it was cool having cheese delivered to you on fire (flaming kefalograviera), we were a little disappointed with the taste.
Worth checking out if you are in the mood for mezze, boozey brunch, or enjoying some Mass Ave people watching.

Underwhelming experience. Outdoor seating gets lots of sunlight which was great on a Thursday night. The happy hour cheese platter was a lackluster presentation of OK cheeses. The bread slices tasted like the cheap baguette from Safeway and were semi-​stale to inedible. I wish they went two doors down to Le Pain Quotidien to buy decent bread at least. The grilled octopus on smokey eggplant purée was better but didn’t live up to what you’d typically find in a real greek taverna. My octopus was not grilled well enough but maybe tastes vary. Sangria was predominantly ice and therefore disappointing. Huge potential, hopefully they step up their game and improve flavors and presentation. I’ll probably return in a few weeks to try another mezzo or two but only because it’s around the block.

Very solid mezzes. My girlfriend and I did the salmon, branzino, spread platter, olives, and rice pilaf — everything was perfectly fine, we weren’t wowed, but we definitely enjoyed ourselves. We also got a carafe of white sangria, which was pretty tasty — very sweet/​citrusy.
The outside patio was nice, although it’s on a bit of a slant, so our table/​chairs were wobbly. Our waitress was lovely.
I definitely was a bit shocked at the final price, especially given how we were both hungry an hour later. I guess a large part of it was that carafe of sangria, but still — I think we can do better for cheaper elsewhere.

This place opened just down the block from where we live, so we decided to give it a try because the menu looked perfect for us. Here is the gist: The food and service are absolutely amazing. Small plates. Lots of options. Reasonably priced. Our new place. Here is the play-​by-​play:
3:35 p.m. We show up to eat, are seated right away and then find out that they serve brunch until 4 p.m. We decide to walk around and come back until we can order off the dinner menu which was what drew us to Philos in the first place.
4:00 p.m. We try to pick a table. More challenging than you might expect since they use cinder blocks to hold up their umbrellas so some chairs can’t be pushed out. Not prob for me, but the boyfriend has long legs.
4:02 p.m. We pick a table and sit. The seats are definitely too low for the tables, which would make a business meeting awkward, but no issues for us.
4:03 p.m. Our waitress comes over. Very friendly and helpful! So far: Service 10, Seating situation: 6 (minus points for awkward cinder block and wacky chairs on funky slant. Plus for awesome patio and beautiful sunlight.)
4:20 p.m. First round of food arrives. We got a three cheese plate and the spread sampler with hummus, Greek yogurt and feta spread. All absolutely delicious and very generous cheese portions. Waitress, again, an absolute pleasure. Her name is Melissa, ask for her. Food: 10, Service: 10, Fig jam: 10
4:31 p.m. Delightful waitress stops by again. Service: 10. Everything has been so fabulous the seating issue is negated.
4:36 p.m. Mussels arrive.
4:36:30 p.m. Mussels are devoured. Absolutely delicious.
4:37 p.m. Scallops arrive. Un-freakin’-believable. Food: 10.
4:41 p.m. Grilled calamari arrives. Perfect. Food: 10
Now it’s 4:46 p.m. and our amazing waitress checked back in, asked what our favorite dishes were and is bringing us the check. We love it here and will come back at least once a month, I am sure of it. We’ll sit in these wacky chairs any day.
Philos is one of the best places we’ve eaten in D.C. Ya nailed it, guys! 10.