I have to say I’m very impressed — I’m never one to believe the hype… but it exceeded expectations! The hummus as everyone says is absolutely delicious. It’s unbelievably smooth and creamy and bursting with flavor. (I will say the bread was slightly disappointing because it wasn’t as fluffy as I’d expected but that might just be a preference thing.) The lamb absolutely fell apart it was cooked so tenderly. All the little veggie small dishes were delicious, packed with flavor. The little meat plates were amazing - the swordfish melted in my mouth and had a nice spicy kick that paired perfectly the creamy sauce it was served with. The dessert - pistachio semifreddo and fennel sorbet - was incredible. I’d never had (or heard of) a semifreddo before and it was like the most buttery, fluffy ice cream. Went really well with the super light and refreshing fennel ice cream. The whole dinner was An Experience and I’ll most definitely be back. The service was also great. It was such a delicious and exciting meal!A quick note though: it’s less of an Israeli restaurant and more of a Mediterranean/SWANA mix. (Also the Persian crispy rice was just Persian in style - it had no Persian flavors in it.)
Maybe the best restaurant in Philadelphia. Zahav provides a massive offering of delectable Israeli food in an inviting atmosphere with friendly/knowledgeable staff. They will make special accommodation if you don't eat meat or have other dietary choices/restrictions. The flavors are otherworldly. They transport the palet across the globe. The dishes feel like they were passed down generations while being sharpend by master chefs along the way to finally bring crafted for you by skilled professionals. Be hungry when you come! The plates are small but PLENTIFUL. I eat a lot and even I had to take some home. We ate at the bar and our server/bartender (Ben) was funny, friendly, and helpful. I'm in awe of this establishment and their ability to take ingredients and turn them into the gastric delights that were presented. There were too many dishes for me to go into the details of each but they were all grand. Make reservations well in advance!
Everyone talks about how good Zahav is but Middle Eastern food isn't my favorite so I was a bit hesitant and not expecting much. However, Zahav lived up to the hype. The meal was fabulous in every aspect. Only negative may be that there is TOO much food.
For years, I've tried snagging a reservation at Michael Solomonov's Zahav, named the most outstanding restaurant in the country in 2019 by the James Beard Foundation. A few days before a recent trip, I direct messaged the restaurant on Instagram. Turns out, they had a seat at the chef's counter open. I snagged it and my life was changed.I dined at Zahav in April 2022 on a Thursday evening at 7 p.m. I spent three hours there eating all the items on the chef's menu with the $45 wine pairing and it was a phenomenal experience. The food was a big part of it, but the staff was the cherry on top. They went out of their way to surprise and delight you through the evening, bringing dishes and drinks to your table on the house.This being my first time, I made the rookie mistake of filling up on the warm bread, hummus and sides before about a dozen other dishes arrived. Each dish was well done, but the winner were the pomegranate lamb shoulder. I don't love lamb, but they braise the lamb for days getting rid of the game-y-ness of the meat. I couldn't get enough.The drinks were really good. If you can, focus on the white wines from Israel and Lebanon.For some of the best food in the country, the price isn't that bad. It was just over $100 for the chef's menu and wine pairing. It was A LOT of food, but they bring you takeaway boxes.
This was my first visit to Zahav, but my family had been there twice before and raved about it. As they had told me, everything was absolutely fantastic. Our server, Lauren explained each and every food item and recommended drinks. The variety of items on the menu and the uniqueness was exceptional. My two favorites were the kataifi wrapped haloumi and pistachio semifreddo. My son already has their May reservation booked and plans to come back in June.
Probably the best restaurant on the east coast. Unique in its vegetable offerings, and the lamb shoulder is the stuff of dreams. Great to visit with a group.
Incredible food - what a treat! We enjoyed dinner at the bar recently. There is a tasting menu and we enjoyed everything offered, even dishes we would not normally select. The service is friendly and not rushed. Simply fabulous! Reservations required. Can’t wait to return.
One of the most amazing dinners I have ever had. I was there for a small wedding Saturday and you made it all perfect. The food tasted exquisite and the staff was attentive and super nice. The room was gorgeous. Well done!! So many vegetarian friendly dishes ~ my favorite was the chicken and the short ribs! I hope when back in Philly I get to come back!
Delicious food and excellent customer service. The variety of small tasting plates was amazing and every bite was very good. The server mentioned the large amount of food and reminded us to make sure we left room for all the courses. There is an option for vegetarians as well. We chose the lamb and the wine pairing and we were very satisfied.
I’m not sure if our 5 person meal was worth $616! I’m going to keep this short and simple, the service was average, the wine pairing was awful, and the food was ok! After logging on everyday and trying to get a table at this place, I would not go back. It’s my opinion but I felt like I had to put it out there.