It’s been three years since my parents visited me in Philly, and I needed a restaurant that would impress the toughest critics I know.

One place came immediately to mind: Stina.

Chef-owner Bobby Saritsoglou’s Snyder Avenue restaurant leans Greek, showcasing the joy of wood-fired dishes. It’s a crowd-pleaser, and a perfect spot to bring out-of-town visitors. The slow-cooked octopus is one clear example why.

My father, who usually stays clear of octopus due to previous bad experiences, instantly fell for the gorgeous char on the S-shaped tentacle we got, which comes from the three-hour slow cooking. Dunking chunks of octopus into the almond romesco and black garlic purée on the plate, we devoured the crisp yet tender tentacle with awe and delight.

“I didn’t think I’d be eating an octopus again,” my father said. “This is the best I’ve had in a long time.”

But then, a glorious crackling sound moved our attention away from the octopus to my sister, who was cutting into an overstuffed piece of browned, crispy phyllo. My mother, eager to sink her teeth into the spanakopita, couldn’t help but take two pieces for herself. “[With] that [sound], I know it will be good.”

And she was right.

The savory tastes of fresh spinach and barrel-aged sheep’s milk feta, with subtle notes of shallots, lemon zest, dill, parsley, and cracked black pepper shine through with each bite.

Both dishes were the highlight of my Stina visit — and the best things my parents ate on their Philly trip. They even received high praises on my dad’s Facebook posts.