Zahav - Philadelphia (PA)

5 /5 Brandon Nolte: Overall, this place is a smash. The Salatim was outstanding. Bright, fresh, and packed with flavor across the board. Standouts were the cabbage, pumpkin, cauliflower, and beets, though honestly I could order just this and be happy. They handled gluten free thoughtfully and even brought sliced radish and cucumbers with sumac for the hummus. For mezze, the halloumi was rich and sweet, but the crudo stole the show. Bright, punchy, and beautifully balanced with blood orange, harissa, and crispy red lentils. Easily my favorite dish. The lamb Mesibah was good paired with the vegetable stew, though I wished the lamb was a bit fattier. Pickled elements were excellent. Desserts were solid but not the main draw. The chocolate pudding was bitter and tart with cherry jam and mint, and the pecan-style dessert leaned more salted caramel than expected, though the honey ice cream was nice. I would absolutely come back, order à la carte, and get the crudo and Salatim again without hesitation.

5 /5 Daniel White: We had the tasting menu at Zahav and it was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The hummus was super fresh and easily one of the best I’ve ever had. The beet salad was incredible—bright, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. For the main course, the lamb shoulder was perfectly tender and rich, and we also received a complementary fluke dish that was a fantastic surprise. Dessert was a silky chocolate pudding that ended the meal on a perfect note. We sat at the bar and had a great experience—the bartender was engaging, knowledgeable, and really added to the evening. Overall, everything about the meal and service was top-notch. We’ll definitely be back!

5 /5 Wen Tung: We had dinner at Zahav on 10/7 and it was one of the best meals we’ve ever had! It’s known for their tasting menu of Israeli cuisine. If you haven’t dined here before: The meal starts with their laffa flatbread and an assortment of dips and small dishes. For the second course, everyone at the table picks a few small plates to share. And for the third course, you can either go big with a shared entrée or each choose your own smaller dish. To finish, each person gets to select a dessert. For our second course, we selected the roasted figs, fried cauliflower, and phyllo-wrapped haloumi. For our main course, we had their famous pomegranate lamb shoulder, braised for 72 hours. Our server was very nice and professional and on top of everything. However, what really made our experience stand out was the manager, Steve. When he found out my 11-year-old son is a self-proclaimed foodie, he surprised him with custom mocktail pairings for each course, a thoughtful, charming touch that completely made my son’s night! We were on the fence about bringing our son to Zahav and Steve made us feel really welcome. My son keeps telling us it is the best restaurant experience in his life. In short, I highly recommend Zahav. Make a reservation on the earlier side so you can stuff yourself and spend the rest of your evening digesting in bliss. Our only disappointment is that we couldn’t bring the leftovers home.

5 /5 Daniel Galastro: Zahav absolutely lived up to the hype. We did the tasting menu and it was well worth it from start to finish. Every course was excellent, but the real highlight was the laffa and hummus with all of the sides. Truly to die for and easily one of the most memorable bites of the night. Easy five stars.