Opa

1311 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Website

Opa is one of those places I had been meaning to get to, and when this opportunity arose, I knew it was time. This coming Monday, to celebrate their new lunch menu, they will be offering FREE lunch. That's right, your lunch will be free if you merely show up. Proof below. So go and try a Greek "toast" which is a variation of a grilled cheese/panini, and get it for FREE this Monday.

That being said, I was given an opportunity to sample the new lunch menu today, and as an eater of the people, I felt it was my duty to give the head's up.

The ham and cheese "toast"is a local take on a traditional Greek pressed sandwich with sweet Lancaster county ham, smooth and creamy Manouri cheese (like a smoother version of feta) and honey mustard dressing. This was a perfectly executed variation of the American classic. The bread was light, slightly sweet and perfectly pressed, an execution in simplicity. The fresh-cut oregano fries that came on the side were decidedly delicious. Salty, with some crunch, I couldn't get enough. The dried Greek oregano was pungent and earthy, a perfect match for the crispy sticks.

I also had to try the Bifteki, a feta-stuffed burger featuring local grass fed beef, and topped with a tomato, dill, and cucumber relish. I was thinking stuffed like this, but it was more stuffed like this. That aside, the burger was well seasoned, and very moist, but the real show stopper was the relish. Fresh, briny and crisp, it made the vegetables sing. I would have "relished" a bowl of that on the side. I didn't realize that the burger ALSO came with a choice of fries or salad, and I ordered them with the burger as well. Fat kid problems.

From the amazing staff to the funky decor, and the damn affordable lunch, I will definitely be back to try some of the other offerings, the gyro for starters. If you know what's good for your taste buds, you will make it here too. If not on Monday (because you hate delicious free food) then soon, because this is some spot on Greek food. I hear they make some mean cocktails as well.

Kanella

1001 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 922-1773
Website

Looking for a light, quick lunch, I popped into Kanella for some soothing Cypriot food. My party was quickly seated, and it felt as though we had stumbled into a distant relative's small restaurant on the island of Cyprus. Especially if that island was located on Tenth and Spruce.

As I was trying to keep it light, I steered away from the much adored English Breakfast, and chose to try a couple of unlikely dishes for someone like myself.

The first was the lamb Mousaka. This consisted of ground lamb sandwiched between layers of eggplant and a light pastry shell, served with Béchamel sauce. Much like a Mediterranean lasagna, it didn't disappoint in the comfort department (I know I said I was eating light, it was small!) and the flavors melded beautifully. It was well over my normal price range for lunch, weighing in at a whopping $15, but it was artfully crafted, and definitely made with care.

On the light end, seriously this time, I also tried the Kanella platter. This platter (all vegetarian) came with stuffed grape leaves, two falafel balls, spicy tomato salad, tzatziki, tabouli, fried eggplant, olives and a couple of pita wedges. Although it was not substantial in any of its components, it was a perfect amount of food for a filling, light lunch. The star, without question, was the dolmathes. They were slightly crispy on the outer leaves, and just slightly warm on the inside. A welcome change from the usual way I have been served them, obviously just out of the cooler. The tzatziki was the other star and ended up as fodder for both the pita and the falafel. Everything else was delightful without being over the top. At a more reasonable $12, this was a great way to start the day, especially if you slept in due to extreme study fatigue.