Review: Figs, Philadelphia

There’s nothing better than accidentally stumbling across a great off-the-beaten-path restaurant, especially when they offer as much charm and culture as Philadelphia’s Figs Restaurant. Nestled on a quiet street in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood, only a couple blocks from the iconic Philadelphia Art Museum, is Figs, a quaint spot offering a creative menu of mixed-Mediterranean dishes with Moroccan influences.

Under executive chef and owner Mustapha Rouissiya and chef John Margraff, Figs has become an institution in the city, despite its modest size and humble reputation. The restaurant is small, offering no more than 10 tables, creating an intimate and inviting atmosphere from the moment you walk in.

A photo posted by Ⓙⓔⓢⓢⓘⓒⓐ (@jessica.lynn.423) on Jun 9, 2015 at 5:37pm PDT

Warm Moroccan-inspired colors and décor and the dim candle lighting only add to the effect, and the personalized service makes you feel like you’re eating at home with family. The restaurant’s kitchen is an open layout, so customers can see creative dishes come to life.

Start off your meal with the baked brie in a clay pot, with honey, lavender, toasted almonds and freshly baked pita bread or the Mediterranean tapas plate complete with freshly made hummus, feta, tzatziki, baba gahnoush and stuffed grape leaves.

A photo posted by Emma (@canwegetpho) on Jan 17, 2016 at 6:17pm PST

For the main event, try the crispy duck breast in a Moroccan olive sweet lemon rosemary sauce, or the braised lamb shank tagine, served with a sundried cranberry couscous in apple cider honey saffron broth. For a true taste of Greece, order the angel hair pasta Greek style, served with spinach, feta, roasted Roma tomatoes, Kalamata olives and garlic-infused olive oil.

In keeping with Mediterranean cultural traditions, meals at Figs are not rushed, as the restaurant owners truly want customers to enjoy their meal. Reservations are helpful, as it is a small restaurant with no area inside to wait for a table. The restaurant is BYOB, so bring your favorite bottle of wine and anyone with an appreciation for authentic Mediterranean cuisine, and enjoy a culinary experience you won’t find anywhere else in the city.

Figs

2501 Meredith St.

Philadelphia, Pa. 19130

215 978 8440