This is the most amazing restaurant I’ve been in my life. This is my third time going and it has not disappointed. My partner and I left from Washington DC to have a meal. Service from all ends is impeccable. Staff makes you feel like you’re at home. You’re so well taken care of from suggesting coat check to explaining dishes. Dilara was our server and she was FANTASTIC!! She paced our meal well and told us when to stop eating the first course to save for the second (EXCELLENT advice). The food is truly outstanding. Tears every time. The meal is definitely more pricey than before but it’s worth every penny. We 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!

I lived in center city Philadelphia starting early 2009 and left a few years later. I'll never forget shortly after moving, my friend and coworker asking me if I wanted to try this 'new Israeli' restaurant that opened, and was highly intrigued. We visited Zahav many times after, introduced it to a couple other friends, back before you ever needed a reservation to be able to walk through the door 🤣. I had been dieing to go back after they started winning well deserved award after award, and wanted to introduce my boyfriend to one of the best restaurants and best hummus I enjoyed when I lived in philly. I happened to keep stalking reservations and snagged a cancelled reservation for last night, made arrangements to spend the night in the city, and trek through rush hour traffic. Dinner was phenomenal and the newer prix fixe menu style seems to make it even more enjoyable. You are literally on a tasting tour. Come hungry and leave overly satisfied. Service is impeccable and our waiter, Russ, was spot on with all wine recommendations. My boyfriend said it was the best dinner he has ever had. Is it worth a trip just to dine here? Yes back then, and definitely yes now!

I didn’t make reservations so ended up getting seated at the bar. Our bartender was great very attentive and made great suggestions about what to get. Drinks were good too. The interior is beautiful and food was great. Everything we had was awesome. The hummus and pita were the favorite along with the Bronzino. Kebab was seasoned perfectly. Will be going back again.

Having dinner at Zahav is an experience. Exceptional service, delicious food. The decor of the restaurant and the music take you to the food markets of Israel. Well worth the money! By the time the lamb shank (the entree) came to our table, I was already full.

My visit to Zahav was nothing short of a disaster. The undercooked, poorly salted dishes were a major disappointment, and the service was outrageously rude. The uncleanliness of both the table and the bathrooms was utterly off-putting. One star is a generous rating for such an unfortunate experience. You can get real Lebanese good near buy that tastes much.

The food is super salty although I already requested to make the food less salty (I am on a low-salt diet). Nothing is good. Everything is super super salty. The lamb shoulder (still too salty) and rice is probably the best but you can still find something better and cheaper in other places. I can’t imagine why this restaurant is so popular and hard to reserve. I won’t recommend it. 2 people we ate $250 but it’s such a waste of money. The service is good but the waiter was very busy and we rarely saw him. (We didn’t even have a chance to tell him all the food is too salty)

We were 5, we had the tasting menu. It was more than enough! It was delicious, full of spices. Best ones are hummus, beets, halaumi and the dessert! Impossible to finish all the courses! Very good for gluten free options!

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!

I came here with minimal expectations and left with an exceptional experience that I won’t soon forget. We sat at the bar. Troy, our bartender and server, was genuine, like we were old friends, and despite repeating mostly the same information to all the patrons around us (because the menu is a prix fixe) he made the experience feel unique. The food was absolutely fantastic. I particularly loved the persimmons with shipka pepper and whipped ricotta. What a simple yet mind blowing combination. I would highly recommend this dining experience to any culinarily adventurous person or group of people that is open to tasting a plethora of delicious bites. Come hungry, perhaps even starving. You’ll leave belly full and spirits high.

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.)

Chef’s tasting is sort of over board for us since it’s a lot of food. The appetizers were unique for but my favorite is the one with fig. The rice dish is perfect. I fell in love with the Branzino. Each dish is carefully curated. We were seated with the view of a lovely historical building. Drinks are also delightful to the palate: cucumber, sumac &tonic and the one with pistachio ingredients 😗. Topped off with hazelnut basbossa for dessert 😚

We were fortunate enough to book a table to celebrate my husband’s birthday. From start to finish, Zahav was a memorable experience. The ambience was vibrant and comfortable, every staff member friendly and accommodating, and the music choice eclectic, played at the perfect volume. Saving the best to last, the food was superb, the depth of flavors sublime. The tasting menu provided a wide variety of small plates, each more delicious than the last. We can’t recommend highly enough! Thank you for helping us make a wonderful memory.

Food: EXCELLENT. I specifically loved the roasted lamb with crispy rice. I did not like the cucumber sashimi... I didn't get the point of it. The hummus dip and crusted fish were good as well. When I came back, it looks like they changed the menu so the lamb wasn't available any more. Everyone was raving about the chicken and steak dish. But I missed the lamb! Drinks: GOOD. We only had sparkling wine and beers. So I can't comment on the cocktails here. Service: EXCELLENT. One of these days, I hope we got a seat at a normal table. We sat at the bar and the owner came out so we had fun just observing the staff. However, more comfortable seating would be nice. Atmosphere: GOOD. It was loud. But expected as the restaurant was almost full when we were there. Overall: YES. I would come back.

Zahav lived up to and even exceeded the hype! The food was phenomenal, the service was impeccable, and the ambiance was serene. There was sooooo much food, but it was all amazing. There wasn't a single thing that we didn't love and the kitchen did a spectacular job at helping with my food allergies. You have to go at least once....but once you do you'll definitely want to come back!

This place never disappoints! Everything is seasoned perfectly and the service is outstanding. Tried the Tayim menu last night and the mushrooms and tuna were incredible. Our server Bradley was also fantastic. True Israeli food done perfectly!

SO many good things to say about this restaurant! Large portions for great value - you will come out full and likely have leftovers. We took home 1 container of food we could not finish and the two tables next to us also had 2 containers to take home. Incredibly delicious food with flavours that pack a punch - every single dish was a “win”. So fresh, perfectly cooked, lively, colourful presented beautifully. I loved being able to try a bit of everything. Amazing ambiance- perfect for a date night, celebrating something special or just out to eat good food. Top notch service - napkins were refolded when we got up to use the washroom, water was constantly refilled, food was timed very well and the server was so friendly. It was my husband’s birthday and we got complimentary champagne for a toast, stuffed dates and a candle that came with dessert. Good vibes all around. The only con is the difficulty in making reservations (I can see why now, it’s truly worth it). My tip is to put yourself on a wait list and reserve a spot as soon as you get an email mentioning spots opened up.

Simply excellent. I understand why it is difficult to get a reservation. Finally got one and the food (tasting menu) and service were perfect!

9. Come hungry this place is amazing. Hummus and other dips with laffa bread was amazing. Lamb was the best I’ve had. Sweet potato with tahini super unique and crunchy. Date was magical. Crispy cauliflower amazing. Stuffed pepper was good. Branzino was pretty good. Dessert was solid.

The service is very good and helpful in accommodating to my low carb diet. The hummus, fried cauliflower, chicken, and branzino are really good. Sadly, most of the dishes are too salty unfortunately because of the picked or cured ingredients.

Everything was so fresh and cooked to perfection! Well worth the price and wait (typical reservations are made a month or longer in advance). I got lucky and my cousin found a last minute cancelled reservation on Resy. Would definitely come back again and again!

AMAZING! There are no words that can describe how good the experience is, it’s more than worth it. Honestly, $75 for the whole amazing experience is cheap. The taste of the food is superb! Service was great!! They even brought candle with the dessert as I asked during reservation, as surprise for my son on his birthday.

Zahav is a "must try" experience. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. When I first saw the menu, I thought it might not be the place for me, but EVERYTHING was amazing. There is a fixed menu with small portions, but there are so many different plates that you fill up before you get your entree. Try it all! Even the plates you might not enjoy elsewhere. Definitely worth the money. FYI street parking is much cheaper. $30 for 3 hours is ridiculous.

It’s as good as everyone says it is. Truly one of the best meals and experiences I’ve ever had. The mezze and pita was perfect and every dish that came out just built on that. I didn’t think it would live up to the hype but it completely surpassed it.

Do not miss Zahav when visiting Philadelphia. The freshly baked pita and hummus are life changing. Impeccable service. Reservations are a must and allow time for a leisurely, multi-course tasting menu. The lamb is little fatty and some courses are better than others, but still an incredible meal, all around.

It certainly checked all the boxes for us. I went with great expectation and walked away extremely impressed. We were seated at the Chef’s Table, it was like a magic carpet ride of the Middle East. Staff execution was spot on and attention to detail did not go unnoticed.

The best Mediterranean/Israeli food ever. We can in December 23rd 2022. It was COLD outside. They greeted us at the door with hot mint tea. After checking our coats,we waited for our spots near the bar. We were served a delicious cocktail. Then we moved to the bar. Troy took excellent care of us. We had the tasting menu. Atmosphere was amazing. Food was stellar. Service was outstanding. 6 out of 5 stars.

Zahav was amazing. We didn't have reservations but showed up right at 5PM on a Tuesday and got their last seats at the bar. The food was amazing, but WOW was there ever a lot of it. We aren't used to eating that much so it was quite a struggle to keep up with all the delicious courses. Our bar service was impeccable and the cocktails/drinks were fantastic. The lamb was honestly the best I've ever had and the entire experience was SO worth it. The only minor sour note is the auto-grat of 20% which is implied to not cover your actual service, but the supplementary BOH and FOH, making this a very expensive meal when additional tip is given.

Incredible dining experience in Philly! We went for my Mother's birthday, and we were truly wowed by the 3 course meal. The hummus and lamb in particular were incredible.

Had a brilliant time at Zahav. The food was fantastic and they catered extremely well to our dietary preferences (vegetarian). My mom has a garlic allergy and she was so well taken care of. The food and drinks exceeded our expectations and the presentation was also really well put together. Samantha, our server, was wonderful and very helpful. Thank you so much!

One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Amazing food, large portions, and fantastic service. Very vegetarian/vegan friendly - they’ll accommodate any request and provide you with extra food instead of substituting things you order. Loved it!

One of the best dining experiences I have. The food and drink were all delicious and exciting. Even better than the food was the service. There was always a waiter or waitress caring about our table. The food was a combination of Persian, Arabic, and Israeli food.

I truly exceptional and special culinary experience. The tasting menu is well thought our and the food is meticulously prepared and presented. My high expectations were exceeded by the food and service.

Hands down one of the best meals I have ever had. We had dinner there when the yurts were still a thing because of Covid and it was delicious 🤤 I want to go back and enjoy all the little dishes that were so incredible. The drinks were great too.

Let me start by saying that Zahav is a very good restaurant. The food that I ate from the tasting menu was well-prepared and in most cases tasty, and the service was good. Is Zahav the best restaurant in the country, as the James Beard Foundation has called it? Probably not, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't visit. The concept of the menu is based on shared plates that better convey the culture of the region Zahav's cuisine represents. The menu starts with the Laffa bread, some hummus with green tehina, and six vegetables salads. All had an interesting neo-traditional flavor profile that I enjoyed. Moving to the mezze, the haloumi kataifi was the star of them all. The haloumi was baked inside the kataifi filo and was accompanied by some blueberries. The balance of the dish was good, with this dish being between somewhere between savory and sweet, without being either. I enjoyed this ambiguity that put me into thinking more actively about this dish and its role in the menu. The heirloom tomatoes with feta was an interesting take on an every-day Greek mezze that combines feta and fresh, ripe tomatoes. The tomatoes were confit with a crumble on top, adding an extra texture to this dish. We had a fried cauliflower as part of our mezze, which I didn't appreciate that much. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing extremely interesting either. The role of the tuna crudo in the menu, I can't understand. While I see variations of this dish in various menus in fine dining restaurants, which they term theirn cuisine "contemporary," I am not sure why the flavor profile of this dish belongs in a menu that focuses on playful/creative representations of Israeli/Middle eastern/Mediterranean food. Moving to the Al Ha'esh part of the menu, this is the point I am getting extremely full with my food. I like tasting menus to perform just that, to provide me with a wider selection of tastes and cooking techniques from that restaurant. If, without getting additional Laffa bread, I am moving through the menu and I am getting very full before the main arrives, then I can't finish my tasting experience. I do like value for money always, but in this case less would be more. In the Al Ha'esh section, the chicken shishlik was tasty and juicy, and the red plum matbucha added complexity to the very familiar flavor of a chicken souvlaki. While the sweet potato dish was good, it probably needed more tartar to balance the elements in that dish. The swordfish, on the other hand, had a heavier smell that I didn't appreciate. I was good without this dish, and it really took away from my entire experience. Going to our main dish, our pomegranate lamb shoulder was tender, if a bit dry, but the pomegranate and the mint were not very prominent at all, flavor-wise. I honestly couldn't trace them anywhere. Having these elements to stand out more, they would have provided more complexity to this fundamental dish of the wider region. Moving to our dessert, both the cantaloupe sorbet and the malabi were tasty. The sorbet was more impressive to me. I was having the entire tasting experience of eating the fruit itself, with all the flavors and nuances of a ripe cantaloupe, while going through the sorbet. The malabi was tasty, but I am not sure it needs the white chocolate. The bay leaf and the peaches were really overpowering everything else, not necessarily in a bad way, but not in a positive manner either. I think for Zahav less could be more, less dishes, in certain cases, less elements in certain dishes. I want something more cohesive as a menu. Also the louder (RnB) music and the chatter that echoes in Zahav's chambers really destroyed the ambiance of this restaurant. Sitting there and going through their tasting menu for 2h I prefer an environment where I can relax and enjoy. Would I go again. Maybe, maybe not. I had higher expectations, I was told my tastebuds would be blown away, etc. I don't think this happened at all. Also I had to book 2 months in advance.

We got a last minute reservation to sit at the bar and loved our bartender, Ben! We had a great time talking with the other couples at the bar and really enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was all amazing, and there was so much of it that we left stuffed and with leftovers. I love that it comes out family style. My only complaint was that I wish it came out a little slower; I was feeling just a little rushed (but I am a slow eater).

Absolutely incredible meal. 5 courses of really well thought out and paired dishes.

DELICIOUS!! So much good, quality food for a great price. I'm so sad I got full half way through because everything was delicious. Definitely recommend to anyone.

Zahav, to be understood, must be experienced. This is a dining experience where each and every morsel are savored on the palette with your eyes closed to amplify your ability to pick up and appreciate the incredible and impeccable flavors. An experience where the food simply does not stop coming out of the kitchen, and nor do you want it to. An experience that takes you seamlessly and courageously across the Mediterranean and the near east, the levant, and everywhere in between on a historical journey of spice and flavor , highlighting how much of a gem Israeli cooking truly is. From alpha to omega, the food, the wine pairings, the ambiance and service all crescendo with each passing plate, mezze, and course to a symphony of flavor, a sonata of spice, an opus of culinary fortitude which will leave you stumbling around Philadelphia's old town with a smile only possible after a journey, much as this, having revealed to you just one of the many Ithaca's you will encounter in your life. Beets, Carrots, Eggplants that will change your very understanding of the vegetable and how it can be prepared. Swordfish so tender and so well spiced, it melts in your mouth. A symphony of kataifi, haloumi, blueberry and elderberry that is truly a symphony. Trust me, take the journey! Lamb that melts in your mouth having been brined, smoked, and confit over three days! Desserts and wine pairings that spellbind!

Was finally lucky enough to get a reservation for a Friday at 7pm after 2 years of trying! The food did NOT disappoint. We sat down at 7pm and they did not stop bringing food out until 9pm. The tasting menu is fantastic and we did the wine pairing as well. My only complaint was that the music really did not fit the setting. I’m paying upwards of $140/person (well worth it), but I do not want to listen to Baby by Justin Bieber, Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, or Like a G6 by Far East Movement. I felt like i was at a 7th grade dance. I would definitely considering moving to some other playlist that fits the ambiance.