August 11, 2016
Kanella Grill /Instagram
Clifford Wright's "A Mediterranean Feast: The Story of the Birth of the Celebrated Cuisines of the Mediterranean from the Merchants of Venice to the Barbary Corsairs, with More than 500 Recipes" sits on a table at Kanella Grill.
Konstantinos Pitsillides took a calculated risk when he decided to move his popular BYOB, Kanella, from its original location in Washington Square West to a new home in Queen Village.
The gamble paid off in spades: Eater critic Bill Addison named Kanella one of the best new restaurants in the United States, calling it a "wholly evolved entity, one too spectacular to exclude from this list."
Many wondered what would come of the former location at 1001 Spruce St., but after Eater Philly recently spotted activity on the restaurant's dormant social media accounts, the site confirmed that Pistillides and co-owner Caroline Christian planned to reopen with an emphasis on Cypriot street food.
"Aug. 11, by hook or crook," Christian said when asked about an opening date.
Well, here we are, and it looks like Kanella Grill already gave a sneak preview to two customers.
In contrast to Kanella South's pairing of an elegant wine-and-dine atmosphere with a welcoming open kitchen, Kanella Grill will focus on growing as a casual BYOB that specializes in grilled skewers of meat, sausage, poultry, fish and marinated vegetables. In time, they may look to partner with The Foodery to make for a more seamless beer-bringing experience.
The menu has plenty of range in its own right. Breakfast options include Middle Eastern baked duck egg and savory but light dishes like Malowha, a Yemeni puff pastry served with a boiled egg, spicy tomato salad and Greek yogurt. There's also a ground lamb and feta cheeseburger, octopus, Greek fried potatoes and a half-dozen desserts.
Hours at Kanella Grill are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for Sunday brunch.
