Homemade Greek Food from St George’s Church- Where You Should Be Eating Tomorrow!

Normally I don’t like to talk about something you can’t get the same day I write about it. But. There is something that happens on Fridays, something so insanely amazing, that I am telling you today in the hopes that you get over there tomorrow and probably every Friday after that.

While passing by St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, I saw the sign “Once a week, Go Greek. Lunch Today” Yes, yes yes yes yes. The church offers home cooked Greek food every Friday for lunch. They are not open all year. This year they opened the first Friday in October and will be around until the end of Spring.

I walked through the parking lot to the right of the white columned church to this back door, where a menu on the glass let me know I was in the right place. Check out that menu and the platter I got…

I found out that volunteers come in on Friday and 2 other days during the week to cook the food in the church’s large kitchen. This is a labor of love. You can taste it in the food and see it in the prices.

Looking at the pans of pastichio and moussaka, it was hard to choose. But seeing the pile of lamb shanks fit for Caeser, I had to indulge to the indulgiest degree.

Platters come with a piece of bread and small greek salad. But you just want to look at my shank, don’t you.

The meat from my giant lamb shank was falling off the bone. And there was so much meat, there was no way I could finish. The orzo that came with it looked so simple but was some of the best I’ve had. I don’t quite know what they do to it, but I am guessing sticks of butter are involved. I also got to include green beans and potatoes in my platter. This all cost me $9. And the lamb is the most expensive item on the menu.

The hall where the food is served is lovely. There are chandeliers and white table clothes on top of many strangely unoccupied tables. And there are a whole slew of friendly Greek church members to get to know.  If you aren’t eating here tomorrow, you need your brain cleaned with Windex.

Here is the menu:

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • Homemade greek food platters
  • Friendly church volunteers make the food and love doing it

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • Only open on Fridays

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, 256 S  8th St, 215 627 4389 (only Fridays and not during the summer)

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7 Comments

  • Lamb shank looks AMAZING

  • Mega-swoooooon.
    Totally going tomorrow.

  • Oh snap! I called last summer and was told they stopped doing it! I need to get my little old church lady Greek on.

  • Put some Windex on it =)

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    LOVE their spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, fava beans and artichoke hearts, green beans, orzo, and desserts. I’m a vegetarian, so I appreciate that their menu includes food I can eat. And it’s all delicious and reasonably priced. Am heading there tomorrow if it’s open. Will probably add a visit to the art museum while in Philly, but would spend the extra $5 to cross the Ben Franklin from NJ just for this lunch.

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    P.S. Jamie, you’re a terrific writer and I find your review extremely engaging. Thanks for commenting on this church’s Friday lunches, and your photos are well done. I’d like to add that the church members who make and serve the food are a joy to be with — very friendly and kind. I enjoy supporting them and their church (aside from enjoying their lunches!).

  • @phoodphan thank you so much for the compliments! (These photos are not my best work, I stumbled in and did not have my camera on my, just my phone)

    I am glad you have enjoyed the amazingness that is the Greek Church. I completely agree that the folks there are so friendly, I always feel good when I leave, not just from the great meal but because I always end up having a great conversation with the ladies and gentleman behind the food. Kind of upset that I am not there right now!

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