Paprica Grill — Restaurant in Philadelphia

On a cold winter day, hungry for a new restaurant experience, my sister and I decided to try Paprica Grill on 811 Sansom Street for the first time. We’d seen smiling patrons dining through its windows many times before, but on this day, when she wanted falafel and I had dreams of pasta, we thought we’d give Turkish a whirl. And boy, was it ever the right choice.

Truthfully, we wanted to try everything!, but we narrowed it down to the hummus with falafel, the sigara boregi (phyllo dough wrapped with feta and spinach), a shepherd salad, and the manti dumplings (we come from a family of foodies, and carefully selecting what we want from a menu is part of the experience). And as each generously-sized dish came out, served joyfully from the friendly staff, we were honestly blown away. From the creamy smooth hummus to the surprisingly light falafel, the textures and flavors transported us into foodie heaven. The salad was finely chopped and dressed perfectly, served with a big basket of homemade bread, warm from the oven with a tiny bit of sweetness and lightly sprinkled with sesame seeds. I’ve never had bread quite like that before. The sigara boregi was absolutely delicious, with the dough having an almost pastry-like texture, which went perfectly with its savory filling - very different from what I typically think of as spinach pie. But the manti! All I can say is… yum. Small, flavor-packed, hand-pinched dumplings, each with just the right amount of lamb filling, topped with a sauce of tomato and yogurt. Each dish was a welcome surprise, served with obvious pride and loads of hospitality. The staff and owner made sure we were satisfied, serving us Turkish tea and pistachio baklava on the house, and giving my shvester “just a little” more hummus to take home with her leftovers (I got the manti, she got the hummus and falafel). We left Paprica Grill happy, full and so grateful to have discovered this little gem in Philadelphia....

We were going to see the Show Beautiful this past Friday night at The Walnut Street Theatre and did not have a lot of time to eat. While on 76 heading into town my wife discovered Paprica on the web which is a very quick walk from the restaurant to the Theatre and apparently many others knew this. After sitting down, we also discovered it is also a BYO.

We were a party of 3 and each of us ordered something different and shared the 5 choice combination platter. We selected Hummus, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Tabuli, Eggplant & Babagannus, All were very fresh and tasty. For the main courses, our friend ordered the lamb and said it was delicious while & my wife and I shared the Felafel plate & chicken paprica. The chicken was so moist & tender it melted in your mouth like butter & the felafel was so fresh I would bet it was freshly scooped to order. It was not dry like most other places I have ordered from. The portions were also very large for the money and also came with a generous amount of bulgur rice. We were too full for dessert and were a little short on time to make the show because the Schuylkill took over an hour from Conshy, but our server brought us complimentary Turkish coffee & tea which hit the spot and were very much appreciated. We will definitely go back again and try the zucchini pancakes and hopefully have more time to try dessert.

This appears to be a family run business. Everyone had a smile on their face and the service was outstanding.

If you want a very tasty meal that will fill your belly and not break the bank this is a very good choice and if you are going to the theatre you can get in and out...

I had the pleasure of dining at Paprica Grill with a dear friend who was visiting, and our experience was nothing short of exceptional. This restaurant specializes in authentic Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine, and it truly exceeded our expectations in every aspect.

From the moment we entered, we were greeted by the warm and inviting ambiance, which perfectly set the stage for the incredible meal that was to follow. We started off with their Turkish tea which comes with a cookie.

Our main courses consisted of the chicken shish kebab and lamb beyti. Both dishes were expertly prepared and full of exquisite flavors that made our taste buds dance. The chicken shish kebab was tender and well-seasoned, while the lamb beyti was succulent and rich in taste.

For dessert we had kunefe, which was served with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. This heavenly combination of melted cheese, shredded pastry, and sweet syrup left us speechless and craving for more.

Throughout our meal, the service was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. The staff truly went above and beyond to ensure that we were well taken care of and enjoyed our dining experience to the fullest.

In summary, Paprica Grill is an absolute gem for those seeking an unforgettable Mediterranean and Turkish dining experience. The food, service, and ambiance all deserve a well-earned 5/5 rating. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delightful gastronomic adventure, and I can't wait to return for another...