Welcome to Gilda
At Gilda, a charming café nestled in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, the warmth of Portuguese culture permeates every aspect of its offerings. Specializing in delightfully crafted pastéis de nata, Gilda presents a variety of flavors, including lemon-raspberry and dark chocolate sea salt, known for their flaky, buttery crusts and creamy interiors. Beyond pastries, the menu showcases traditional dishes like caldo verde and char-grilled piri piri chicken, alongside satisfying sandwiches. Customers rave about the rich coffee selections, from Americanos to mazagrans, creating a vibrant atmosphere that feels akin to a café in Portugal. Gilda invites you to savor these authentic flavors and experience a slice of Portugal right in Philadelphia.
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300 E Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125 Hotline:
Welcome to Gilda, a charming café nestled in the heart of Philadelphia at 300 E Girard Ave. This delightful eatery breathes a warm Portuguese atmosphere, inviting you to indulge in a unique culinary experience. With an emphasis on specialty food items, Gilda has quickly become a local favorite for those eager to explore the rich flavors of Portuguese cuisine.
Stepping inside Gilda feels like a mini-vacation to Portugal. The cozy decor and friendly ambiance immediately transport you, making it the perfect spot for a relaxing brunch or afternoon coffee. The menu features an impressive selection of offerings, from the savory Pastéis De Bacalhau to the incredibly tender Char-Grilled Piri Piri Chicken and succulent Tinned Sardines. For soup lovers, the comforting Caldo Verde is not to be missed, paired beautifully with their fresh Salad Deoliveira.
- Pastries: Gilda is particularly renowned for its Pastéis de Nata—Portuguese egg custard tarts that boast a crispy, flaky crust and a velvety, not overly sweet filling. Flavors such as lemon-raspberry and dark chocolate sea salt offer a delightful twist on the classic that many patrons rave about.
- Coffee: When it comes to beverages, Gilda presents an array of options, including the robust Americano, smooth Espresso, and creative concoctions like the Nata Latte, which combines vanilla, cinnamon, and oat milk for a delightful experience.
- Sandwiches: Sandwich enthusiasts will find joy in their offerings like The Sammy and the flavorful Bifana. Each sandwich is crafted with care, making it an ideal pairing with their delicious pastries.
The customer reviews speak volumes about the café’s charm and quality. For instance, Amber K. describes the lemon raspberry tart as reminiscent of cheesecake with its delightful flakiness. Bina P. captures the essence of Gilda perfectly, noting how it feels like a slice of Portugal in Philadelphia, while Katrina D. raves about the rich and cheesy sandwich options.
As you explore Gilda’s menu, you’ll be tempted by the blend of traditional flavors and innovative offerings, making each visit feel like a new adventure. The bustling atmosphere can be overwhelming at times, but patrons note that it only adds to the lively charm of this café, ensuring swift service even during peak hours.
In summary, if you're searching for authentic Portuguese delicacies and a cozy café vibe, Gilda is a culinary gem that guarantees satisfaction. Whether you're stopping by for breakfast or a lazy afternoon treat, their delicious pastries, potent coffee, and warm environment are sure to win your heart. Be prepared to immerse yourself in the tastes and aromas that make Gilda a must-visit establishment in Philadelphia!
I came on a Saturday morning for a sweet treat and I wasn't disappointed. When I came there were three flavors, chocolate, lemon raspberry and original. I only got the lemon raspberry and original and they were fantastic. The lemon raspberry tasted like a mini cheesecake in a way but with a flakey crust. I also really enjoyed the original but next time I'll get the lemon raspberry. I would like to try their coffee and breakfast sandwiches in the future as well but I was a little overwhelmed by how busy it was so I didn't try it this time around.
Love this little coffee shop. Felt like I was in Portugal for a minute. The coffees are very tasty and pastries are divine. It's fairly busy with a lint at times , but seems to move quickly
Great food. Had the Antonio and Serrano, mocha, and iced coffee with a couple of pasteis de natas to go. The Antonio had a good amount of tasty sausage and tons of gooey cheese on delicious bread. The mazagran was interesting with lots of fresh mint and acids from the lemon. Surprisingly smooth. Service was fast and good with a nice clean and well decorated interior. Will definitely be back when I'm in the area!
Delicious Portuguese egg custard tarts (pastel de natas)! Crust was perfectly crispy (most crispy I've ever had), and inside was soft, warm, creamy, and not too sweet. We tried the classic, lemon-raspberry, and dark chocolate sea salt, and all were great. The classic was supposed to have cinnamon, but my partner and I didn't taste any cinnamon. Not a dealbreaker though. Dark chocolate was quite heavy and rich (but still really good), and the lemon-raspberry provided a light fruity balance in contrast. The lemon-raspberry was delightfully refreshing and tarty, and you can really taste the raspberries on the tart, which I think is impressive to pull off. Nata latte with oat milk was also great. It had vanilla, cinnamon, and lemon. I didn't taste any lemon, but I think it was subtly spiced without going over the top. I thought it was really good and just the way I like it.
This is IT!!! I'm a huge fan of egg custard tarts... Portuguese egg custard tart is unique yet crispy filled with soft velvet tasting of sweet egg tart! It's a home-y feeling when you entered this cute and quaint shop! Love their cute decors and art pieces hanged around. Service was amazing and top notch as they catered to our orders: Lemon-raspberry pastel de nata (lemon and raspberry) - probably my favorite of all three here... so delicate and robust flavor of raspberry ingrained in egg custard tart. Lovely combination and satisfying filling. Dark chocolate and sea salt pastel de nata (chocolate chunks and maldon) - very rich, then you could taste sea salt, and it brings sweetness out of dark chocolate. Interesting combination but still good! Pastel de nata (egg custard tart with cinnamon) - sweet and soft velvet tasting. It wasn't strong or overpowering on each bite. I enjoyed this one so much and liked how crispy it is on crust. Nata latte (cinnamon, lemon, vanilla) - got it with oat milk. It's the best especially on a cold day in Philly! So smooth and not so citrus-y but well woven taste in a cup of latte! I'd choose this over regular latte.
Really love Gilda. Try their coffee specials. And the chocolate nata is delicious! It gets busy so come early.
I love all egg tarts, but a flakey butter crust is always going to be superior to a more shortbready crust. I've been wanting to try the egg tarts from Gilda for the longest time, and I'm so glad I finally made it early enough to snag some treats: - Portuguese egg tarts / pastel de nata - we got the original, dark choco sea salt, and lemon raspberry! - Guava cream bola de berlim - Portuguese-style filled donuts made fresh daily by @koukletbakehouse Everything was so good, and the interior design/decor is so creative and unique!! I think my fav was the lemon raspberry egg tart. They always drop new flavors too, so I'm excited to see what they have next :)
I love the pastéis de natas. They're probably the best in the whole city!! Very delicious and crispy/flakey and sweet and soft on the inside. It's a solid 5/5. It's honestly a must have. They have a deal of either 4 dollars each or 20 dollars for half a dozen. They have different varieties by the plain one is excellent. The sandwiches are really really delicious too. Love the Sammy and the Antonio. I want to try the other ones too. Good fishtown location to go to. You order at the counter and you can get it to go or at an open table. They can get pretty busy. Ambiance is cool. They got fun plants and sick decorations. 5/5 spot. Would recommend!
Thought it would be a good idea to stop in and try some pastries prior to my trip to Portugal, and thank god I did. The pastries were delicious, especially the raspberry/lemon pastel de nata. Not overly sweet with a perfectly flaky pastry bottom. Would go great with a coffee. Also got the most popular sandwich with the sausage. Absolutely delicious too....the bread was perfect for this sandwich and the combination of the runny egg + sausage, make this a 10/10 breakfast sandwich. Highly recommend
Quite possibly the best Portuguese egg tarts I've ever had! These are quite a decent size, and I like how they offer rotating flavors in addition to the traditional version. They are freshly baked, very custardy, and have a crispy/flaky/buttery thin crust, which I really like. Simply heavenly. There was a bit of a line when I came in, which snaked around the interior of the cafe. All the seats were taken, so I got three tarts to go and re-toasted them at home. It can get kind of crowded, so it's probably not the greatest spot to leisurely enjoy your coffee and pastry -- unless you somehow manage to find yourself here ahead of the crowds.