One of my favorite ways to spend a night out is to discover a new restaurant and try different foods. Philadelphia is home to some of the best food I’ve had, so I make it a point to explore a new spot every month, if possible.

This month my friends and I had the pleasure of dining at Almyra, a modern Greek restaurant that offered an unforgettable experience for all of us. Celebrating my friend’s birthday, a table sat waiting for the 11 of us right by the kitchen. With beautiful views of the flower-filled ceiling and gorgeously decorated tables, it really set the stage for an evening that exceeded all our expectations.

With so many enticing options on the menu, we decided to share a variety of appetizers so everyone could sample a little of everything. We kicked things off with a selection of spreads, trying more than five different kinds, including spicy feta, smoked eggplant, Santoríni fava, beet and edamame hummus. Accompanied by fresh vegetables and warm pita bread, each spread offered the perfect balance of flavors, making every bite truly enjoyable.

Next up were the wagyu dumplings, stuffed with feta and onion, served with a side of lemon-mint yogurt. The combination of flavors was surprisingly perfect. They paired beautifully with the layered potato fries (not pictured).

My personal favorite was the crispy rice with tuna and avocado. The tuna was incredibly fresh, and the rice held together perfectly, providing the perfect base for the tasty toppings. It was such a hit, we ended up ordering another plate for the table.

Almyra is definitely a place I’d love to return to and explore more of their entrées. The menu was incredibly appealing, with everything fresh and thoughtfully curated. We wrapped up the evening by singing “Happy Birthday” to my friend and enjoying a locally made banana chocolate chip cake topped with cream cheese frosting. What could be better than that?

‘Til next time, Almyra. I’ll definitely be back!

— Emily Gladu, administrative coordinator