Baklava Cafe: Middle Eastern Treats on South Street

By Danya Henninger

For nearly 15 years, Emad Elmatni ran a successful cafe in Damascus, but the recent turmoil in his native country brought the Syrian restaurateur to calmer U.S. shores. Earlier this month he opened the doors of Baklava Cafe, a quick-serve Mediterranean serving pita sandwiches, kabobs and a wide assortment of pastries on the 600 block of South Street. Judging from our first few bites, Syria’s loss is Philadelphia’s gain.

Stacked in neat circles in large display cases are flaky triangles of the namesake dessert, which is available in multiple styles, including walnut, pistachio or cashew. Other sweets on offer include date-filled mamoul, sesame-covered barazik and our personal favorite, the burma, which sees whole pistachios wrapped in a nest of crispy phyllo strands. The treats run $1-$3 each, or pick up an assorted box of around a dozen pieces for $10.

On the savory side are large spinach, meat or kibbi pies, falafel, shawermas and platters of salads like tabouli and baba ganouj. Nothing on the menu tops $11. Fresh squeezed juices are also available, just in time for the summer strolling crowd, in tropical flavors like kiwi-papaya-cantaloupe and coconut-pineapple-mango ($3.70 small; $7 large). Illy coffee is offered in drip or espresso style.

Baklava Cafe is open 7 AM-11 PM, Sunday-Thursday and 7 AM-midnight, Friday-Saturday.

627 South St.; 215-702-3623