Zahav

We lucked into a reservation when one opened earlier in the day and we just happened to check the website. They also have walk-in spots at the bar as well.We had the tasting menu and sat outside. I was a little surprised that when we got there, they were playing Rage Against the Machine but I enjoyed it. With the tasting menu, you and your group pick from a few options and then the cascade of amazing food begins. Everything is shareable and you usually get a variety of plates at once. For the entree, they were out of the fish (I was not dissapointed about that) so we got the two lamb options. Everything was great and we left so full.Service was really good and made the experience. If I lived in Philly, I'm not sure I would go all the time but its definitely a fun spot for date night or to bring friends or family that are in town.

If you've never had middle Eastern food then you'll enjoy this place..... as someone from the Middle East...it was OK. Our server welcomed us to an Israeli restaurant but I missed the part where a combination middle eastern dishes (Turkish, Lebanese and Persian etc..) was from Israel...like I said, the food was ok. They tried to add their own spin to classic meals and I think it wasn't successful in most of the dishes. For context we got the lamb and Persian rice as our main dish. The meat of the lamb was smoked well but the pomegranate sauce was an absolute miss, as well as the Persian rice.Service was very good, everyone was friendly and quick. The lights inside were flickering a lot which got a bit annoying. For the price and dishes offered, I most likely will not be going back. There is definitely better and more authentic middle eastern restaurants out there.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. I am so glad I finally got to try this place! The food was delicious, the ambiance was great, the servers were very attentive and friendly. I could see why it's so hard to get resy for this place! The only negative about this place was this dessert I got. It was so horrible the minute we took a bite of it, we were searching for water. I am sure everyone has different pallets and it's good for some but my friend and I weren't a fan!

This was my second time here and both times I've had to admit to myself that it's really rather fine. Don't get me wrong, the food is good. Is it amazing? Not sure I would go that far. But when the hype is so strong and the reservations so spare, it ultimately just doesn't reach the level I want it to. Having loved Dizengoff for so long (even before their fancy new renovation) and wanting to stop by Goldie every time I frequent Whole Foods, I leave semi wishing I had just gone to Laser Wolf instead, which I believe to be superior. That being said, the food is good. You start with their salatim and their delicious laffa bread. This is specifically where I prefer Laser Wolf, as there are more options there and I think I prefer the pita over the laffa. The mezze here was fine, I expected a skosh more from the phyllo-wrapped Haloumi and I'm not really even sure what to make of the dehydrated watermelon. Next, you can either choose 3 kebabs or one main and both times we did what everyone does and chose the pomegranate lamb shoulder. This is unparalleled. It's such a nice portion of tender and delicious meat paired with an amazing crispy Persian rice and a Turkish tomato/bean stew (the latter of which was one of my favorite parts). The meal ends with their cheesecake, which this time we felt was a bit tart but at this point you're so full it never really matters. The drink options are fairly reasonably priced. The service is impeccable and attentive, with multiple wait staff checking in on you throughout the meal. I don't totally understand the music, as it was a mix of random current pop and house and maybe a bit too loud. The views are great from the restaurant itself. They now advertise that there is parking available for guests specifically for the restaurant, which is true. However, for a standard length of a meal, it would cost you ~$30.... opt for the plentiful street parking in the area. In the end, it's certainly worth trying at least once when you live in Philadelphia. The pricepoint for the tasting menu really isn't too bad in comparison to other options. But whether it's worth doing a second+ time I haven't decided.

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.

The food and the service is fabulous. It's just hard to get a reservation. It is a set price with three courses so you pay $85 a person and the first course is the Mezze course with the different salads and hummus and pita then the second course has a variety of unique things. The third course/dessert is the only thing you have to order from the menu we chose to go with the lamb.

Zahav impressed the hell out of me and my wife. We booked a spot for our anniversary and were very glad we could find a spot, as it's difficult to find reservations. The venue was classy and elegant, with soft lighting and high ceilings. We were seated in the outdoor area, which was temperate despite a heat wave outside. Our servers were all kind and very attentive. Despite a packed house, all courses arrived quickly. A+ rating for food accommodations, as one of us required dairy-free dining. Those substitutions were equally delicious.We enjoyed the fixed price menu, which started with a Mediterranean smorgasbord of vegetables, grains, fresh bread, and olive oil. We then picked a three-dish assortment of branzino, mushrooms, and brisket meatballs. Dessert was the most impressive course, with cheesecake with tangy raspberry sauce and a poppyseed m'hencha, which tasted like a blueberry baklava. What a remarkable dinner and induction to Israeli cuisine. This restaurant is worth a trip to Philadelphia.

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!!

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.

Outstanding Middle Eastern restaurant with really great service in a beautifully decorated large dining room. Our server Chris was extremely gracious and friendly--he alone is worth the trip here! Food is served family style. The 4 guys at our table all shared the lamb shoulder, which was marinated in pomegranate for 3 days. The Lamb was absolutely outstanding--very tender, moist and fell apart very easily. Zero gamey-ness, dark colored from the pomegranate marinade, and perfectly seasoned. The ribeye kebab was also outstanding--moist and tender and perfectly seasoned meat chunks. Easily some of the best lamb and ribeye kebabs I've ever had, and it is a close rival to Evvia in Palo Alto. The appetizers were also very good and their hummus was the second best dish of the evening (next to the marinated lamb shoulder). The hummus reminded me of Oren's Hummus near Stanford University in Palo Alto....blended extremely well so that it has a "soft" yet thick texture. The dessert of homemade raspberry sorbets were perfect to end the meal, and their baklava-type dessert was outstanding (Chris will kill me for calling it baklava again).