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Zahav Philadelphia Reviews
This place was amazing! I'll start with the service -
This place was amazing! I'll start with the service - impeccable! I came here for a friends birthday and the minute we walked in we were greeted with smiling faces! We were sat very quickly and immediately our server came over and walked us through how everything worked. After we placed our order it was time to eat quickly after - please come hungry. Every bite was delicious. The only thing we didn't like was the desert however, this may have just been our taste buds not enjoying the poppy seeds! Must go to - there's definitely a reason it's so hard to get a resy!
The atmosphere killed the food
I was on-line reading restaurant reviews and saw that Zahav opens the reservations 8 weeks in advance of a specific day at @ 11:00. It was 11:30, so I logged in and got a reservation for 4 on a Wednesday evening 8 weeks away -- not bad! The date was halfway between my husbands and son's birthday, so we had an excuse for the splurge, given the great things we've heard. Zahav's food is a wonderful expression of a specific cuisine. The Israeli/middle eastern spices and dishes are wonderfully unique to the American diner. (one of our parties was not fond of the food, but that was his preferences and not the food's problem). The servers tied to be attentive, but the environment missed the mark for us all around. The room was loud to the point of not being able to hear the server or others at our table. There were very young children making loud children's noises that might have been cute at McDonalds, but not here. They seem to have mixed a few small parties in a room with a lot of large noisy parties, and while they might work for the restaurant to maximize seating, it was totally wrong for us (and the couple across from us trying to be romantic -- this was sad). I checked out another ding room before leaving and the noise levels seemed to be just as high As a local who loves good food, Zahav was on my list, but for me it's a one and done.
Letdown.
All disappointment from meet and greet, to service to blent and mediocre food. I can say that the humus was really good and the busboy did an excellent job but we felt unwelcomed by the wait staff, unimpressed with food presentation and choice, felt that the place wasn't very clean and was very noisy. Main signature dish - Pomegranate Lamb was ok but nothing notable and definitely not worth the money. It's a given that our expectations were high with all the buzz going about the place and customers flocking in, but sadly, we didn't find anything remarkable and left feeling quite disappointed.
Lovely experience at Zahav.
Come hungry as there's a lot of food (arguably too much)! We went with the pomegranate lamb for our main, which was the highlight of the meal. Though everything was good, nothing truly stood out especially as we got increasingly full. Everyone who works there is super friendly. Though reservations go fast, had no trouble getting one through Resy Notify.
Best Israeli restaurant! Amazing small plates and lamb,
Best Israeli restaurant! Amazing small plates and lamb, must try if you can get in! The lamb is to die for.
Insanely overpriced for mediocre food/experience.
Overall very overrated. Also felt a little sick after. Skip it, and try Malooga instead--better quality at reasonable prices and better atmosphere.
Absolutely a MUST in Phila if you are able to nab a
Absolutely a MUST in Phila if you are able to nab a reservation OR just wait for a bar seat right when they open at 5. It was my first time here in a decade and the food is just as good as ever with exceptional service. Our server, Anthony, went well above and beyond to make sure that we had a great experience end-to-end. I would highly recommend the lamb shoulder or the duck - you can add an entree for $55 as well. Both were excellent and the duck is in limited quantity so be sure to grab an earlier seating if you are able to as they tend to run out by the second round of the evening. It's worth the wait on either Resy or for a bar seat.
Really good customer service, but is the food worth the hype?
I have heard all of the gype circulating zahav so I had to go try it for myself. Getting a reservation is an actual nightmare so we showed up right when it opened to get a seat at the bar. We got their prix fixe menu so it's pick and choose of what's supposed to be their best. We chose all vegetarians dishes so I will caveat that I don't know how they cook their meat. I appreciated that they even gave us an alternative dish to make up for not having enough options on their menu. Their dishes were all good. I think maybe 2 were outstanding and were dishes I still think about. The rest, however, were simply good or fair. I don't think I was blown away by any particular bite. The bread was burnt which made it bitter. We got a lot of food and I'm happy I went. But was this my best bite in Philly? No.
Had the incredible opportunity to experience Zahav as part
Had the incredible opportunity to experience Zahav as part of a wedding rehearsal dinner recently. We were brought into a special event room in the back with 2 long tables. The staff was exceptional in taking care of us all night; they explained each course, refilled drinks quickly. The whole experience was remarkable. The absolute standouts for me were the dip with the beets (the purple one, it's hard to miss!) and the pork shoulder. Being that we were such a large group, we had massive portions of everything...the pork was INSANE to look at. The meat fell off without a fight and it was ridiculously delicious. All of the dips were great, the veggie sides, the chicken... I mean there wasn't ONE bad bite. Now the dessert deserves its own shine. We had this chocolate ganache coconut pie thing... I don't really know how else to describe it. Looking at it you wouldn't expect the middle would be warm and chocolately but it sure was. It was super coconutty too, but not in an overpowering way. It's very clear why Zahav has the notoriety it does. Big fan!!
Absolutely incredible meal.
By far the best hummus I've ever had in my life. All the opening dishes in the tasting menu were incredible. The chicken kebab was good, brisket was eh. Halloumi and labneh both insanely good. Love this place.
Living off its former glory
Four of us went here late on a busy Thursday night. Ordering is limited to two basic options, we opted for the main course consisting of three smaller items (as opposed to one larger main option). A lot of different and highly varied items with interesting names and ingredients are provided (too many to list here), but they all had one thing in common: mediocrity. Every dish was rather uninteresting, overly salted, and/or seemed like it was sitting around for many hours since being created (our reservation was 8:30pm). As to the service, we waited for 30 minutes AFTER finishing the appetizer round with no server coming to the table. After alerting a very polite server to our situation, a manager came to our table, apologized, and comped our drinks, for which I give them credit. However, the entire experience fell well short of what was expected from such a vaunted establishment. Plus, it was so noisy in the patio area, we could barely maintain a conversation. A bad night perhaps, but there are too many better, quieter, and less expensive places in Philly for me to go back.
Satisfy every wish you have ever had for a great restaurant
The dinner we had at Zahav on June 1st, 2024 was far and away the best meal of my life, and I am not exaggerating. The food is marvelous and every morsel is presented magnificently with an explanation of what it is. The wait staff is beyond compare and we appreciated how hard they worked. Any request was fulfilled quickly and no question went unanswered. Plan eight weeks ahead to get a reservation, and you will never regret it. I am sure that every diner that night would agree with this review. Ellen T. , visiting Zahav for the first time.
The shoulder lamb was incredible! Highly recommend! The
The shoulder lamb was incredible! Highly recommend! The flavor and quality was amazing. It's so tender and melts in your mouth. The tasting is $85 per person and an automatic 20% gratuity is included, so expect to pay over $100 per person. For me personally I think it is a bit overpriced, however a unique one time experience that you should try at least once.
Had a wonderful dining experience at Zahav! Menu featured a
Had a wonderful dining experience at Zahav! Menu featured a lot of items I wouldn't normally eat or order, but everything was absolutely delicious and glad I tried it all! Since it was our first time, we tried the pomegranate lamb and it did not disappoint. Pulled right off the bone and combined well with the stew and pickled veggies. If I had to find any complaints, it'd be minor at wishing the rice had a little salt sprinkled on top, but the Persian rice was still crispy and paired well when you built a full bite with lamb and sauce. Our waitress was wonderful and our meal never felt rushed, with our water glasses never empty and food coming out well timed. Thank you for a great evening! Hope to be back soon!
Yes good food but not as good as expected and insanely expensive
Note I left the exact same review on YELP. Had wanted to try this place for several years and glad I did, but would probably not go back. Insanely expensive evening, over $330/per couple after the $85 per person price fixe, a few overpriced and relatively small pour wines by the glass ($20 for what seemed like maybe 4-5 oz), coffee with dessert, tax and 20% service charge included. Plus we gave the waitress, who was very nice, an extra $20 cash and paid $30+ for parking as well. So all together, really $380 per couple Very good food of course, and yes a lot of it, in fact probably too much, by the time we got finished with the numerous mezze/appetizers we were too full for the main course. The legendary lamb shank in my opinion was good but nothing special (tasted exactly like every other lamb shank I have ever had and was very salty). I did have leftovers for dinner the next night which was good. The hummus and many of the mezze/appetizers were great. The wine and beer list including Israeli offerings a little different. Didn't try any cocktails. So hard to get a reservation, how are there so many rich people willing to pay these prices? Also a lot of traffic getting into the city from the suburbs and not that easy to park, but that's not the restaurants fault, but by the time I got there I was a little stressed out and tired. If you walk there or take a cab/uber from in the city it would be a more pleasant experience I suppose, but still super expensive and food again good but not quite as heavenly as I expected. My biggest complaint otherwise is the limited and strict price fixe menu. No a la cart items available at all. And for the famous lamb shank, THE ENTIRE TABLE HAD TO GET IT which is ridiculous. I hadn't been there before and really wanted to try it, so I had to force everyone else in our party to get it too, even though some of them had been there before and wanted to try something else. But there is no other option or flexibility, other than the entire table could get one item, or the other 3 item price fixe combination. Yes it's a big portion of lamb, but really, why can't each person or each couple get the entrees they want? Give a smaller portion of lamb and let someone else have fish. Again, ridiculous, but they have consistent crowds so I guess it's just me. Glad I tried it, but unlikely to go back again.
Downright disrespectful service at Zahav!
My family and I, in town for the Penn Relays, could not wait to try Zahav-a restaurant we’d seen on favorite shows about amazing food and a place that we had to reserve months in advance due to the popularity. I was stunned by the extremely poor service that then lept into downright disrespectful. Our server-named Chris R.- paid absolutely no attention to us. After coming by, introducing himself, talking a bit about the menu, and taking our drink orders…we-almost-never saw him again! We watched him walk by us multiple times to bee line to another table and literally chat them up for 10’s of minutes. We eventually began giving our additional drink orders to the fine folks that were busing the tables because Chris R. could not bother to stop and ask us how we were doing. Final straw was that Chris R. did not put our main course order in…tried to blame it on the “slowness in the kitchen”, and brought us a plate of free food while we had to wait yet more time: keep in mind our reservation was at 8:15pm and due to his lack of care and follow through, our main dish came out at a little after 10:00pm. As a family, we walked away underwhelmed, feeling marginalized as we watched Chris R. pay such good attention to many other diners except us, and now are unwilling to recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to be treated in a civilized manner.
Outstanding
Zahav is understandably one of the hardest reservations to get in Philadelphia, I was fortunate to be able to pop in and sit at the bar as the restaurant opened during a recent business trip to the area. I opted for the tasting menu, which is very fairly priced at $85 considering both the quality and quantity. As I’ve had the tasting menu before I knew to pace myself - the salatim showcase the ability to make vegetables shine; the broccolini, spicy fennel, and Napa cabbage stood out for me. The hummus and Laffa, as usual, were out of this world. Additionally, the fluke crudo, Phyllo encrusted halloumi, and hen of the woods mushrooms were amazing. The skewers were a notch below, with the ribeye being the best of the 3 (mushrooms and tuna the others). The leftovers I had were amazing later in the night and the next day. Highly recommend if you can get in!
Over-rated.
James Beard got it wrong with this one. uninspired, unoriginal, unremarkable, colonialist garbage.
Everyone seemed to love this place but me.
I had very high expectations from this place due to all the hype people were telling me. It was such a disappointment!! The service was less than many other high end restaurants that I have been to. Maybe it was an off night for the staff. They didn't change our plates after eating the first course so that the first and second course I had to mix the flavors!! The restaurant was a bit too dark to be able to see well also. I understand about ambience but it was a bit too dark for that so I worry about the cleanliness!! As for the food, definitely not worth the calories consumed!! Their famous hummus was very salty!! I always believed that good food does not have to be salty. I get it that people drink wine or cocktails need the salt to taste the food!! As for their fried cauliflower, I was so excited to try but it tasted burnt and a mouthful of oil came out as I chew it. Not the greatest experience!! I have had deep fried cauliflower or broccoli before at other restaurant, let me assure you there is a way to keep it not that oily!! Holy cow!! The other dishes were ok nothing to write home about for sure. As for the meats - the lamb was a bit too gamey for me. The short ribs was definitely the worst I have ever eaten. It was all fat!! I actually had only a couple of bites and left the rest there!! Usually I do expect it to be fatty but one can also find some meat but what we got was mostly fat and thin strips of meat!! The steak with mushrooms were cooked very rare!! The mushroom were quite tasty but again it came out not hot and I am not the type to eat bloody pieces of meat!! So I only ate the mushroom and they were delicious!! I really don't know how this place can be the best to eat at. Honestly I left the place hungry and had to go to Positano which is nearby to grab some food! What a disappointment!! I am going to assume it was an off night for them!! But at these prices there should be no off night. Being a foodie I expect at high end restaurants to serve food that is not too salty and to ask how do we want our steak to be cooked.. etc... I apologize for giving such a bad review but I really didn't like it. I have been to Tel Aviv many times for my business travels and let me tell you the restaurants there are incredible!! This is terrible compared to those places!! I remembered not ever having a bad meal there from the bread to the hummus to the grilled fishes. So fresh!! Another thing I can't imagine is people have to wait two months to get a reservation for two. Save your time and go elsewhere. All hyped!! Hope the owners do some reflection because I do want them to do well!! If you like their food - good for you but for me, I will not come back anytime soon!! Save your calories for other places with great food, great service and a place that makes the food taste homemade and not over salt it so you have to keep drinking liquor to overcome the saltiness!! Remember as you get older you only have so much appetite, eat something worth the calories that you can consume! At least I didn't get sick eating at Zahav!! I guess that is one good thing I can say and the mushrooms were very good that came with the steak!!
Amazing! I have never had a bad meal at Zahav (the inside
Amazing! I have never had a bad meal at Zahav (the inside not the patio seating). The meal was 85 dollars per person but included small dipping portions with fresh pita, mezze, and one mesibah with an ending of dessert. The meal alone was so much we ended up with a ton of leftovers. I started the meal with a cocktail. It was the open sesame and it was very delicious. The drink had scotch, sesame, and bitters. Fresh pita was brought out with a ton of small dipping plates surrounding the hummus. The pita was ok but the hummus was the best I have ever had. The dipping portions were equally amazing. Broccolini with Caramelized Onions and Pickled Napa Cabbage were so amazing. We had so much left over, the staff graciously gave us more pita. The bartender at the bar (which we were seated at) was very helpful and friendly to chat with. The mezze came up next. Of note was the Roasted Broccoli. I loved how the broccoli was marinated in lemon and how the dipping sauce was tehina. The Phyllo-wrapped Haloumi was delicious. The cheese melted in my mouth. The entree was split between 2 people. We split the Pomegranate Lamb Shoulder. I think this is the only dish we regretted. The bartender said it was the most popular entree but it was a bit too sticky and the lamb taste was too pronounced for my liking. I also didn't taste any pomegranate. I think next time I go I want to try out the other side of the menu. The dessert that came was so so good. The Malabi Custard was a delicious custard that had candied walnuts.
Reserved a spot for two at the bar.
I prefer it since it's more intimate than shouting across the table. The bartender explained the menu to us and another couple. He would provide us silverware, drinks, and that our orders. The first two portions are automatically ordered with every item ordered and delivered. The first portion included 5 items that were all fantastic, with the Beets with tahini and twice cooked egg plant shining out the most. Ordered another Laffa bread since the first was insufficient. Next, the various Mezze plates were served. They were simple but delicious. After that, we chose the pomegranate lamb shoulder. Neither of us like most lamb but it was zahav signature dish so we went for it. It wasn't great. We'll choose the Al' Hahesh dishes next time. The Malabi Custard was excellent. The custard mixed well with the candied walnut. We were also given a date who's seed was replaced with almonds. Soo good. Out of all fine dining Israeli restaurants I've been to, Zahav is the only restaurant worth it's $$$.
Always a fabulous meal.
Just wish it was easier to get a table and enjoy more often! That lamb ... it haunts my dreams. :sigh:
I have eaten in so many high end restaurants, but this one
I have eaten in so many high end restaurants, but this one is special. It. Was. Everything. The entrance. The warm greeting. The perfect round table for 5 where we could all talk easily to one another throughout the meal, the decor, the lighting, the amazing food, and Sydney! Sydney is one of the all time great wait staff people. She gracefully handled 4-6 tables of 5 and 7. She was the exact right amount of present, attentive, delightful, professional, and kind. Yes, our wait staff person was kind! This is a special TREAT restaurant. The food on the tasting menu was abundant, flavorful, creative and delicious. I am a weirdly picky pescatarian who doesn't eat spicy food or beets. Skipping those two dishes, I enjoyed so many unusually deliciously prepared "salatim"salads; the most amazing dorrade fish wrapped in grape leaves and chocolate kanafe. I didn't like the drink I ordered. Sydney noticed this and promptly insisted that I get a drink I liked better, and did not charge me for the one I ordered originally. This entire meal experience was unforgettable and I feel grateful I had the chance to dine here. You should, too.
Dined here last night and every aspect of the night blew me
Dined here last night and every aspect of the night blew me away. Our reservation was at 7 and we were seated immediately. Graham was our server/bartender and he was absolutely incredible. His knowledge of the menu was truly impressive and his drink recommendations were second to none. Another standout was Anthony who was super attentive and personable and did a great job of making us feel right at home. The sheer volume of food is overwhelming and the entire experience is MORE than worth the money. Not only is the quantity of food large, but the execution of every dish is spot on. This is the best restaurant I've eaten at in Philly and a must try for any foodie in the area!
The most amazing restaurant in Philadelphia! The waitress
The most amazing restaurant in Philadelphia! The waitress we had was so nice and welcoming as well as extremely knowledgeable able the dishes, ingredients, wine origins and was so excited to share this eating experience with us. The Salatim were amazing, our personal favorites being the fennel and cabbage. The hummus and laffa were great and had amazing zaatar seasoning. Appetizers were also very good, our favorite being the carrots and the crispy potatoes. At this point we were so full! We recommend the Al haesh to be able to try several different skewers which were served with cabbage and baharat rice. Lastly the malabi dessert with calamansi was amazingly refreshing and fruity! I recommend the wine pairing as well. Cozy feel in the restaurant and friendly atmosphere was a plus.
Hard pass.
It's difficult to think of a place I would like to eat at less than this one.
I love Zahav! I wish it wasn't so hard to get a reservation
I love Zahav! I wish it wasn't so hard to get a reservation otherwise I'd be here at least once a month. When you come you have 2 menu options and each comes with several courses. The first time I came I got the one with Persian rice and it was good but the second time I came I tried the other one (pictures below) and it was much much better!! Parking is easy to find right outside and the service is phenomenal. Would def recommend
Go!
Literally waited years to come here and it was well worth the wait! For as nuanced and fine a dining experience, the vibe is very casual and welcoming. Put your food selection in the hands of the very knowledgeable staff, and enjoy!
Zahav
An amazing experience, we received service above and beyond any expectations. The food was wonderful and delicious. The presentation and portions were family style. Our waitress was knowledgeable and accommodating. Will definitely come back for more great experiences. Thanks Zahav
Awesome food. Great staff. Fun vibe.
This was an awesome experience! First, you must make reservations early. They open reservations eight weeks in advance and they fill quickly. They fill quickly because it is worth it! The atmosphere was comfortable-lighting, seating, upbeat modern club-style music. Staff were so friendly and professional. The food is fantastic! There are two menus to choose from, each having 4 courses. Each course has many dishes. It’s essentially a tasting menu, with so much that you’ll be full halfway through. We chose the Tayim. It started with humus, laffa bread, and 6 different bowls of spreads or salads that you could eat with the bread. The second course included multiple small plates of different things. My favorite of these was the pastry wrapped haloumi cheese. It was so good. Everything was. The third course was salad, rice, tahini and kabobs- for these you choose 3 out of six options. We did chicken, lamb, and eggplant. Dessert was an amazing pistachio cake and poached quince and pear. We also had Turkish coffee to round it out. There wasn’t a single thing we didn’t love. The vibe of the place was great. When there was a slight lull between courses, they even brought us mint lemonade mocktails to make up for the wait, which was a really nice touch. I won’t hesitate to go back every time I’m in Philadelphia, and plan to take friends and family there too.
Disappointed
Soooo disappointed— especially after waiting some time for a reservation. Maybe we had an “off night” but the dishes were not good. We had the Tayim Tasting Menu. New Orleans’ SHAYA remains my favorite Israeli restaurant. Everything there is delicious, every time.
An amazing experience, we shared the lamb and I added the wine pairing! Seated at the bar, it was amazing.
If you can nab a reservation, this is a must! Really wonder dinner, highly recommend for a special occasion or really any reason. So good!!
A must!
First and foremost, the food was delectable. I am a vegetarian and there were so many great choices. I can’t wait to go back again. We also had drinks that were yummy too! I’ll add, if there’s foods you think you don’t like…. Still try them here! I typically don’t like beets and the beets made here was one of my favs. Some people were dressed up, some were casually dressed. The restaurant was clean. Our server Graham provided attentive, knowledgable service. Tim the manager was helpful in getting us a reservation. We sat at the chefs counter and it was the best seat in the place in my opinion. Can’t wait to go back!
Fabulous restaurant; hard to get a reservation
Getting a reservation at this restaurant is incredibly difficult, given that they only start taking reservations eight weeks ahead and they fill up very quickly, so we were very lucky to get a spot here. The restaurant is located on the main floor of an office building and is incongruous to look at from the outside, but is absolutely worth it. The food was out of this world! Every item on the menu is delicious and beautifully prepared from start to finish. We shared the hummus, smoked sweet potato, eggplant with za'atar, and pomegranate lamb shoulder, and everything was fantastic. The lamb melted in my mouth and combined perfectly with the pomegranate, and it's clear that the chef/cooks take great pride in their work. Our waitress was super nice and was very patient with us when we struggled to decide what to order. I will add that while they do have some walk-in tables set aside, those are very few and far between, so you need to arrive at the restaurant before they officially open to wait for a walk-in table - and it's not guaranteed that you'll get one. The patio isn't open year-round (it's seasonal), so if you don't get a walk-in table at the beginning, you're out of luck. I'll also say that we tried calling with a question, but calls are only answered by an automated informational service; we couldn't get an actual live person on the phone. It was a bit frustrating.
Layers of flavor with amazing staff
Out of this world, unrivaled dining experience with copious incredible Israeli food delicacies. Prefix menu with more than enough for tastebuds. The staff runs like a well oiled machine. Truly an adventure not worth missing!!
Zahav Patio
We did a walk-in at the Zahav Patio, for a birthday dinner, and it was fantastic. Mia was a great server. The weather was perfect, as was the food.
Here Come the Superlatives
For our first trip to Philly, I researched restaurant recommendations on the city’s TA forum and Zahav was listed several times. My husband and I were put on the wait list and then got lucky with a Friday night reservation. We had no idea what to expect. Wowza, what an experience. And every single dish was amazing. Our main server Brad, made sure to accommodate any food allergies or dislikes we had. The $75 per person tasting menu price might seem steep, but the amount of food you get is well worth it! We had five courses, all of which were perfect portions for tasting. We opted out of the wine pairings but instead got one glass each which was plenty. With our “In the Beginning” course, the hummus was the best I’ve ever had, and the accompanying bread was mouth watering. All of the other small dips and salads were delicious- my faves were the beet spread and baked eggplant. The second Mezze course included some roasted sweet potatoes, two tiny cute as a button phyllo rolls, and a raw fish tabouli that even my husband liked (he typically doesn’t do raw fish). Somehow our third and main courses overlapped- a delicious kebab, a piece of branzino, lamb shoulder (the only “problem” dish of the evening - it was at room temperature, but I enjoyed it anyway), and an awesome crispy on the outside rice pilaf. Dessert was an apple walnut baklava with a spiced cream semi-freddo. A wonderful way to finish off an incredible meal. Service was attentive and efficient. We never lacked for anything. The interior is vast: high ceilings and well spaced tables. There is a cozier section behind the host stand. But …. the blaring nightclub music was so distracting and too loud. IMO, this is where Zahav and most US restaurants could improve. Patrons have to use their outside voices to be heard. Loud music makes for loud diners. Turn it down a notch! Note to patrons, a 20% tip is automatically added to the bill. This is made very clear to diners, so I’m not sure why some reviewers complain about this. And we would have tipped 20% anyway as the staff were great.
Just an exceptional experience as Lisa E.
and I celebrated our 31st anniversary with a one night getaway. We toured Philly on foot logging just under 9 miles and worked up quite an appetite. Yet, we have enough leftovers to host a Shabbat dinner for 4. We sat caddy-corner at a table for 2 allowing for views of the kitchen, bar, and main dining room. Our waitperson Chris provided an overview of the tasting menu. While awaiting my cocktail, he brought us flutes of a crisp sparkling pinot noir blend from Australia. Seeking something more traditional from the cocktail menu, he recommended the Quench Me- rye, calvados, cynar, and vermouth. Complex , nuanced and quite enjoyable. The first course began with the delicious zatar flatbread served with salatim. My favorites were the hummus with green tahini, the fennel, and the Napa with onions. The second course standouts were the kataifi halloumi and figs with tzatzik. Dishes kept coming at a perfect pace , with the exception that the third course and main entree came at the same time. Not sure if that was an oversight but my preference would have been to have a pause between the courses. By the time we finished the crisp skinned branzino and took one bite of the rich lamb with the crisp rice we were done for the evening. Dessert and off menu stuffed dates will wait for tonight's after dinner treat back home. We walked off the meal with a moonlight stroll towards our hotel on a fine spring evening, satiated, content, and ready for the next life adventure together.
Fan freaking tastic.
Get the humus and sit at the bar to do the tasting. The bartenders are top notch. Loved seeing Troy there.
Food is amazing.
It is definitely worth the wait to get in here. Service is professional. Ambiance is sleek and clean!
Honestly, some things on the menu were really goI'd and
Honestly, some things on the menu were really goI'd and other things just okay. I don't get the hype of this place people really rave about it and I (and my whole table) was extremely underwhelmed with the food and the service. Id way rather go to Vetri or Laurel and get my dollars worth. The service was also just okay compared to other similarly priced restaurants in the city. It's a no from me, dawg.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but Zahav was fine and I
This may be an unpopular opinion, but Zahav was fine and I most likely would not return. Let me explain why;Food: the only option they provide is the chefs tasting menu ($75). Which I probably would have ordered anyway. The food was good, but truthfully average and lacked the flavor profile that I have found at suraya and laser wolf. There are only 2 options for the main dish - lamb or eggplant. The lamb was nice but it came out on a dish and presentation that didn't feel like it was supposed to be a main course. However, I will say they provided a lot of food and I was impressed with the quantity. The quality needs some work. Service: our wait staff was lovely. They did a very good job explaining all of the dishes and we did the wine pairing which I think added a lot to the experience. They have a "service charge" of 20% but what was uncomfortable was their explanation that "this is not gratuity, rather a charge to make sure the kitchen and staff can meet living wage, gratuity is appreciated." - I fully respect that, but when the service charge is almost 100$ .... Ambiance: is fine, but this place is so overhyped that I really expected something spectacular. But overall the staff was nice and the service was good. The restaurant was relatively empty and with how challenging it is to get reservations here - I think they must only release a certain number to make it appear in high demand. So all in all - the food was fine but no where near the cost. It was overrated. If you want to go for the experience and to say that you did - go for it. You will not find me here again.
Memorable
From the location to the atmosphere to the food, you will leave Zahav with a positive experience that will stay with you.
The food was amazing, the staff was pretentious.
The starting salads were well balanced, our first bread was a bit overcooked, too crisp to fold and scoop the hummus. The mezze dishes were fine, but the entrees were stellar. The lamb is worth the hype, and the chicken was moist and well cooked. We were stuffed by the time dessert came around, but the tartness of the dessert paired so nicely with the sweet arak fluff, you had to take more than one bite, even when you think you are full! The balance of the flavors throughout the meal was lovely and I can understand why it's still one of the top places to try in Philly. The service was okay. Attentive and generally friendly. I could overhear the staff complaining about the lowering quality of the clientele right after speaking to me, which was not a pleasant way to start my meal. It soured the evening for me, personally. I've only ever heard good things about the service here, so I'm hoping my experience was just due to her having a bad day, but hiding your distaste for your customers should be the bare minimum in an upscale restaurant, shouldn't it?
Great ambiance, food and service! Definitely suitable for a
Great ambiance, food and service! Definitely suitable for a group. Everything is sharing and the food and drinks were nice however they could do much better for vegetarian options in the mains for a well known restaurant
Absolutely fantastic and worth the hype! We sat at the bar
Absolutely fantastic and worth the hype! We sat at the bar and our bar tender was extremely attentive. I was a little hesitant to sit at the bar over a table, but we received the same, if not better service. It is a five course prix fixe menu, with a 20 percent service charge on the end. It came out to a little under a hundred per person. All of the food was phenomenal. Some highlights: loved the hummus and flatbread, brisket toast, and lamb shoulder. My fiancés favorite course was the desert. While not the most appealing to look at, it tasted like a key lime pie. Everything was fresh and delicious. We finished everything, leaving a comfortable full. There was incredible attention to detail in every bite. If you are trying to get reservations, I recommend being flexible in your date and setting notifications for when a table is available. It was much easier getting a table for a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday than the weekend. I cannot wait to return to one of the best dining experiences I've had in awhile!
Service and ambiance was great.
Hummus is phenomenal as are the drinks. As for entrees... very average Israeli/middle eastern food and grossly overpriced. This place is more to be seen than anything
i gave been to Zahav many times and its amazing.
the place the food the service all excellent. i can't wait to go again.
Gosh, this is a tough review to write.
..I have eaten at Zahav many times from 2015 through early 2020 (pre-pandemic). It has not continued to get better and better in my estimation since 2015. I will sum up my impression in one sentence-WAY TOO MUCH FOOD.Sounds like I'm nuts, right? Trust me; I'm sane. A lot of Americans still equate massive amounts of food as a good dining experience. Realistically you can only eat so much before reaching a point where you are no longer eating for taste and enjoyment. You are simply eating because it's in front of you and you paid for it. The house cocktails here are original and well done. Highly recommend the Lemonnana and the Z&T. Course #1-The Beginning. The laffa bread is sublime. Every time I've come here, I've seen Mike Solomonov in the open kitchen, making laffa. As a chickpea hater, the warm hummus accompanying the laffa is the only hummus I'd ever care to eat given a choice. That schlubby beige stuff in the gorcery store deli case? Get it away from me-it's wall paper paste. By the way, you are not served heaping amounts of appetite quashing bread at this course.Course #2-The salatim is a selection of 6 vegetable "salads." They change from time to time but often feature carrots, eggplant, cauliflower and other vegetables elevated to new heights due to skillful preparation. By this stage of dinner, I am starting to get full-but look! Mezze is on the way. Course #3-Mezze selections also change on a fairly regular basis. I tried duck hearts as a mezze for the first time at Zahav. They were exquistely prepared and presented. I doubt I'd ever eat them elsewhere but I am glad to have tried them here. *urp* 3 more courses to go. By now, I am ready for some sparkling mineral water, loosening my belt and taking a brisk walk outside for about 30 minutes as opposed to consuming more food but here comes the al ha'esh. A thought, as I try to get comfortable in my seat; no matter how slowly one eats, one can only eat and enjoy so much at one sitting.Course #4-I believe March 2023's al ha'esh selections are a fish dish and chicken skewers. I've never had an unsatisfying meal here but at this juncture in the evening, I feel more dread than anticipation at being able to fully enjoy whatever is coming next. As I said earlier-too much food. In the words of Van Morrison-"On and on, over the hill to..." the entree. Course #5-For some time, the entree choice has been either lamb (ugh-no thanks) or a vegetarian dish. By now, more than anything, I'd really like to have a bitter digestif or a strong mint tea and my check so I can stroll down to the waterfront, think about my meal and contemplate life. Instead, because I have slogged through the arduous reservation process and paid for an enormous, too enormous, prix fixe meal, I am trapped here at this table for more courses. Could I ask to have the last 2-3 courses boxed up? No doubt I could, but then I lose out on the "full" (in more ways than one) Zahav experience. I would have been happily content to call it a night after the al ha'esh course. I'd feel sated in the sense that my money was wlsely spent and that I'd eaten well. Course #6-Dessert comes and it could be anything but no matter what it is, it would no longer have the ability to whet my excessively appeased appetite, couldn't arouse my burnt out taste buds or ease my overly full belly. Way too much food. How I wish Zahav served a la carte as well as prix fixe or offered a bar only salatim and drinks option. Don't let my review stop you from dining here. The food is interesting-but it's too much food. Too much of a good thing is really not a good thing, no matter who is in the kitchen.
Zahav not only lived up to its lauded reputation, it
Zahav not only lived up to its lauded reputation, it exceeded that lofty praise. Everything from the service to the food was beyond comprehension. There was not one mediocre dish during the entire meal. Salatim, laffa bread, lamb shoulder, hummus, and more were all simply outstanding. This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in the United States. I would recommend this place to anyone. I understand why it is so difficult to procure a reservation.
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Zahav Philadelphia at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Zahav Philadelphia page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
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1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
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* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $5.
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* MaternalRecord73, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* MaternalRecord73 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
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* MaternalRecord73 now uses their connections at Zahav Philadelphia to secure the table.
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* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Zahav Philadelphia!
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