Reviews of Zahav (Restaurant)

Tarun Kunwar

Celebrated my birthday here, and this was the best dining experience I've ever had. We had a party of 13, and our knowledgeable host/waitress did a phenomenal job accommodating for all of us. The food was fantastic, our room was enormous, and everyone enjoyed their time. HIGHLY recommend.

sjucrewguy .

I’m probably not going to say anything that hasn’t already been said about this place 100 times. The ambiance and atmosphere is positively delightful. The food is to die for. Like I’d literally have this on my list for last meals if it ever came to that. The staff is knowledgeable about the menu and attentive to the needs of the diners. I’m happy every chance I get to go here and I promise you will too.

Ukpebo Omosigho

This place in my opinion was overhyped. The hummus and the dessert were the best parts of the meal. I had the hanger steak that was too salty to be consumed in my opinion. They did give me fish and chicken without any problems. The fish was great and the chicken was okay ( still slightly salty). I expected more. The service was top notch.

Jimmie Gibson

We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. I saw the lamb dish on the Cooking Channel “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”. My wife loves lamb so made reservations for our 3rd anniversary. We were not disappointed. The staff were very warm and friendly. The special Happy Anniversary note on the menu was very nice. Our server Ben was fantastic and even agreed to a picture with us. Food was excellent. I highly recommend Zahav if you’re ever in Philadelphia.

JoAnn Chadwick

An awesome food experience every time we go...its definitely a must place to dine

Simon Katan

They say that it is the best restaurant in Philly. Sorry no it can not be. The service very professional, the food taste good but nothing extraordinary. I don't see any reason that you can not have a reservation for months. While we were sitting on the bar, there were plenty of empty tables. The desserts are average. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT!!! The price is very expensive for this type of food. It is Israeli market food that it is the standard and average food. Small portions and not filling portions. The taste is good but nothing exceptional. Everyone complained that it was too salty. I don't know if i will return again as for sure they will ask me to wait for few weeks or months to have a table. So as they say in Hebrew: I was there three times: the first, this time, and the last.

Rob Smith

It's been a few years since I have been able to get a reservation here. I ended up settling for early on a Tuesday night. In my view, the food is still amazing and it was definitely one of the best meals I have had in the city in the past year. Each dish is so carefully constructed yet deceptively simple. Even more noteworthy is the absolutely perfect pacing of the meal.

Emily D

Best Foodie experience EVER! Best dining experience EVER! Customer service was superb. All the staff here is well trained. The flavors were scrumptious. We selected the Tayim menu, mind-blowing. This restaurant is modern Israeli meant to be eaten family style, which is perfect. They are also extremely accommodating for those who have allergies, intolerances or dietary restrictions. They may remove those items, substitute ingredients or suggest you avoid certain dishes. When dishes arrive at the table that contains those items, they remind you of those ingredients again.

Emma Hawthorne

I lovvveeee this restaurant! ok, I’m not gonna lie, i’ve never been here. I only know about this place because my aunt Julie is the host. 5/5 Stars! Amazing!

Alexa Mohr

This is one of Philly's finest. Chef Solomonov was even there the night I went there. I even went with 2 of my Jewish friends who had recently visited Israel, and they said Zahav's food was better! We did the chef's tasting and had 2 bottles of wine. Everything was wonderful. My favorite part of the meal is the various snacks and spreads in the beginning. Also the celery ice in the one dessert was so unique and interestingly delicious.

Armand S.

Probably the best Israeli food I have ever had.

Maci Sterrett

Food and service are impeccable. There's definitely a reason why they were awarded #1 restaurant in the country!

Kate S.

What can't be said about this place??!! Arrive early even if you have reservations as they hand out housemade treats

אלון חן

Great Israeli kind food. Special atmosphere. Very good service.

Diana Wilson

Show up early to get a seat at the bar if you don't have a reservation. We got in line around 4:30, got our name on the waiting list, left for a drink elsewhere, and were seated around 6:30. Worth every minute of waiting!

Carl Kerns

The food is fabulous and I’ve never been disappointed.

Holly Gore

Hamachi Crudo is a stand-out dish. Everything was flavorful, fresh, fair priced. Wonderful experience with Israeli cuisine. If you didn’t plan ahead with a reservation, try for a seat at the bar—staff was friendly, helpful, and personable.

Yishai katz-schonfeld

Went to dinner and it was disappointing. We were a party of 14 people in a private room and we all agreed it was a mistake to come here tonight. The food wasn’t good and wasn’t tasty at all. The wine was spoiled. One member of our party worked for a wine company and knows exactly what bad wine tastes like. When we brought this to the attention of the manger she said “I understand this is not your taste” The service was not friendly and slow. The One and only good thing about this place is that The room was very big.

Kera

The ambiance of this place is LACKing and the food is average. We ordered several dishes and cocktails and all of it was mediocre. (Steak, chicken, Turkish hummus and rice). The drinks were sweet and amateur and i don’t really understand how it has a three month wait. The service was running slow also, I felt like all the waiting took away from the experience. The baked bread that comes with the hummus is good but again a three month wait? I think sometimes the celebrity carries restaurants further than they should go. You can literally go to Dizengoff and get the same hummus.

Hen Pastry Chef

I love love love this restaurant! My favorite by far. I think is one of the best restaurant I've been. Everything is delicious. The service is fantastic. There is a good vibes good music good energy. You have to make reservations ahead but we were on the wait list and got in. Also if you only 2 people you can come and eat at the bar witch is fun. Don't skip on the desserts and the salatim for start

Lauren Nesi

Absolutely fantastic. Great meal. very hard to get into but worth the wait!

Annie Jules

After snagging a reservation about a month and a half ago I've been anxiously waiting for my first Zahav experience. Service was spectacular. Waitress and food runners were knowledgeable and met all of our needs in a timely fashion. The whole experience overall was underwhelming considering the hype that this place has.The food was very good, we did their version of a chefs tasting. Hummus was out of this world, mezzes and the hanger steak were delicious. Location of the restaurant is odd and ambiance was lacking. Only getting 3 stars because it didn't live up to all of the reviews and expectations. I will not return due to price and availability of reservations. Instead of coming here go to Suraya instead!

Christina

Such an enjoyable dining experience! Fantastic food and service!! Great drinks and atmosphere! An absolute must if you're in the Philadelphia area. I loved every minute!

Orlando Delarosa

Great place. Great food i will be back time and time again

Bryon Stout

I've been here since it first opened and continue to go. Apparently there is a wait list of a few months which is crazy. If you want to go you better schedule now. The plates are small which is fine but there are way too many. I was overly stuffed by the end of the night

Yan H

Not to be redundant but this place is fantastic. There's a secret menu sometimes that will have slow roasted lamb with pommegranite sauce. If they have it, get it. You really can't go wrong with ordering. Some highlights for us were the Philo wrapped haloumi, the cauliflower and mint sauce, and the tomatoes and okra. Get the lamb. Seriously.

Kane Albarron

Been here several times, including before it “became a celebrity” as other reviewers say. You come here for the food. It’s #1 because of the food. Don’t arrive expecting dinner and a show. That being said: it’s the best Israeli food you’ll find. If you arrive early enough, order the lamb shoulder before they run out! You won’t regret it.

ashley masula

I wanted to eat here for YEARS and drove from Manhattan without a reservation to try our luck. Risky, I know. We sat at the chef’s counter after a fairly short wait and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the service to the food to the atmosphere - Zahav exceeded my expectations. Congrats to front and back of house for doing something spectacular. Please, consider opening a location in NYC.

jan achenbach

One of the best restaurants in the United States. An abundance of flavors. We ordered the prix fixe menu and were surprised by the large portions. The flavors turned the hummus and vegetable hater into a convert. We didn't have reservations and we're very lucky to get seats at the bar after a 2+ hour wait. There is a very very small waiting area with only a few chairs. We ordered a drink, socialized. But you've got to be flexible. You're there for the food not to be accommodated. Enjoy the atmosphere--everyone there is friendly. If you want to sit at a table, you'll need to make a reservation 3 months in advance. It is worth it. Prices are incredibly reasonable. We appreciated that our waiter/bar tender helped us choose our meals and drinks to go with. Do NOT pass on dessert. I dream of the flavors and textures.

Brian Baller

So good. Everything was excellent. You cant go wrong. Definitely making it back while here in town

Anna Annecca

Incredible food and service

Sean Hayes

Bring a group, get the Tayim, and share! I can't begin to explain how great of an experience I had Friday night at Zahav. Just make sure to book well in advance, it's worth it!

Ian MacFarlane

Mind blowing. Tasting menu is a must. Bring at least three people and you won’t feel like you’re missing out on trying a certain dish. Favorites: pickled fennel, duck hearts, chicken and branzino.

Alex Ahl

Cool place, great food. Make a reservation

Moner Isabela

Very good Mediterranean food. Hard to get a table but managed to sit on the bar.

eli g

Amazing food, great service, and lovely atmosphere. Great for a date night. Reservations are a must. Definitely recommended and will go back.

Kelsey B

This place lives up to the hype and even exceeds expectations! The hummus is so amazing that will ruin you for other hummus—I cannot buy or enjoy store bought hummus anymore after tasting the Zahav hummus. And the tasting menu is well worth the price—delicious way to try many different flavors and experience the magic that happens in the kitchen. Also try the non-alcoholic turmeric lime soda—I don’t typically drink soda, and i don’t like sugary drinks, but this drink was so fresh and different it is worth a try!

Alexander Shelmire

Zahav is tucked off the main road with a stairway leading up to it it's location on a hill in Old City. We arrived to our reservation a few minutes early on a Saturday night. The staff took our coats and our drink order (signs of good service to come). We were seated close to the kitchen, so we had a view of Solomonov and his team at work. The service was excellent. Atmosphere was good. But the food was incredible. I'm usually pretty critical, but every dish we ordered was a little explosion of unique flavor. We went for the tasting menu. Be aware this was a lot of food, despite each individual dish being fairly small (save for the hummus). The Salatim and Hummus were real highlights - lots of small, delicious veggie plates, and some of the best pita and hummus you'll have in your life. For small plates, we had the fried cauliflower, broccoli salad, a cheese dish (wrapped in some vegetable), and some lamb eggplant sandwich dish. For grilled plates, we had the hanger steak, branzino, and duck foie gras. Everything was delicious, but I think the vegetable dishes shine more than the meat. Dessert was also excellent. A brilliant move at Solomonov's restaurants is to surprise the table with an extra dish (the hanger steak for us on this occasion, a dessert at Abe Fisher on another). I'm not sure if they do this for every table every night, but it certainly makes guests feel special! They ask about allergies at the start of the night, so I'm sure they take that into account.

J de Vries

Everything was great. No complaints. Food was excellent. Atmosphere was casual and comfortable. Would definitely recommend. Bathrooms need some work though.

Dave Lin

Service was wonderful. Staff was pleasant and very professional. The food was delicious. Got the Lamb shoulder prefix tasting menu. Being that the lamb was the highlight, it was a little bit disappointing in the fact that though it was melt in your mouth tender, the meaty part of the shoulder seemed a bit dry. A light yogurt sauce or more of the glaze/sauce on the lamb would have made the dish more complete.

Matt Stoia

The hummus and bread to start were awesome. The initial dishes were nice, with the spicy pepper dish being the star to me. As good as the appetizers and entrees were, the best part was the Walnut cake/desserts to me. Suraya and Zahav offer very similar experiences, and it's no wonder they are top restaurants in Philly.

Kevin Barry

Great food and amazing service. 100% recommend.

Rob Pflug

Of you are lucky enough to get a reservation, do not pass up the opportunity. Simply amazing!!!

Guy Hartstein

An absolutely unforgettable experience. This restaurant is Michael Solomonovs masterpiece. The food was remarkable, and I’d recommend the sampler. For one price, you get to try the entire menu with a party of 4, and half the menu with a party of 2. The hot hummus was to die for and the side dips were awesome. I especially enjoyed the Malabi for dessert! Service was amazing. If you’re on the fence about going, just go!

Daniel Clark

From the moment you walk in, Zahav will immerse you into a decorated, dim environment resembling foreign architecture decorated with distinct artwork around. The kitchen is fairly open, so you will smell the delicious makings happening behind you. The menu is not large which is positive because otherwise, you would have difficulty choosing what to order. My date and I started with hummus, moved to a small plate, shared a large plate, and indulged in a dessert. The most memorable of all of the dishes was the duck patties. I have eaten a lot of duck, but I have never had duck that was prepared in such a tender way. It was amazing and filled with distinct middle east spices making it a delicious main course. Everything seemed to be made with very authentic spices and fresh ingredients which is always an important aspect of authentic middle eastern food. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to try a cocktail, but from the looks, they were as good as the meal. Our server was very attentive to our needs, and we even received compliments from the chef following our first plate. Overall, we had 4 plates excluding dessert. It is common for places with small plates to recommend 3-4 plates per person. If you are in an adventurous mood, go for it, but I am confident most people will be comfortable splitting 3-4 plates with another person. Reservations are required as it took me two months of waiting to finally come here. It was well worth the wait, and I will definitely be returning! Don't skip on the turkish coffee!!

Salvatore Pappalardo

Delicious dinner! Our party sampled almost everything on the menu and one dish was better than the next. Fabulous service and nice ambiance.

Josiah Nedd

I hadn't been here in about 10 years, but was pleasantly surprised on my recent visit. While the restaurant looks exactly the same and the service is still great, the food was a lot better than I remembered. Also, for a place recently listed as "the best restaurant in America", the prices were very reasonable (you could get the tasting menu with a wine pairing for about $80). The hummus is great, the skewers might be the best in the city, and the deserts were awesome. BUT I couldn't say this is the best restaurant in the city, let alone the country. That's a big title to live up to, so if you're expecting the best meal you ever had your definitely going to be disappointed, but it is pretty darn good. People stay up at midnight to try to get a reservation online, but if you call in you can get a reservation for a month or so out. You could also chance it and hope for some empty seats at the bar, and there were about three open when I was there.

rudolph harraser

Very nice place for a nice dinner. Enjoyed it tremendously.

Joseph Crapo

Very fun experience. Delicious food with an unpretentious atmosphere. Surprisingly well priced for what you get. Hard to get a reservation, so book early!

Mohit Vatsa

Unbelivable food. Everything we ordered was good. It’s a nice casual place with great drinks. Definitely must visit!

Kristen Pareti

A must visit for good food in Philly. Great service and even better food. The hummus here is the best i’ve ever had! Their complimentary salads are so tasty and different too. Definitely make a reservation and come hungry!

Jackson Masih

Food was great. But took too long between each course. Destroyed the appetite.

Karsten Marshall-Otto

Great service and food. Would go again, we had the tasting menu and were stuffed. The value for the quality of service and food was on point.

Mona R

Wonderful all around: food, service, bar, friendly staff. Lamb is a standout from tasting menu, but all excellent!

Lisa Borghi

From the impeccable service to the imaginative drinks and the beyond words Turkish hummus- one of the best!

Katie Grieze

Really great food and kind service!

Russell Lee

If 6 stars was an option!! Divine food, great atmosphere, staff super friendky - Buzzing but still very attentive. Try to tasting menu to get the max exposure to these flavors. #1 well deserved

Anvesh Reddy

It was special indeed. Zahav ,as they say its the best restaurant in Philadelphia .Limited menu but great presentation and great taste. Drinks were pretty good. Do not miss out on the desserts, it was heavenly. I definitely love this Israeli cuisine. The vibe and the music was perfect. Made my day.

Paul Cheong

I was absolutely blown away by this place! Amazing food. Very affordable prices. Great service. The ambiance was just OK. I wished they kept it a bit classier/quieter but it was more like a bar/restaurant kind of vibe, which I didn't mind because the music was pretty good. My group tried the set course and ordered so that we'd cover the entire menu. The set menu was too much food, to be honest. There were 6 of us and we would've been better off just ordering the entire menu for the group. That would've been cheaper too. The food was amazing. There were some disappointing dishes but the good ones more than made up for that. My favorites were duck hearts, pickled cabbage, plaf, dessert custard (the one with hazelnut), chicken shishlik, and of course, their bread/hummus. Branzino was pretty good, too. Note that it's pretty difficult to find parking around the restaurant so make sure to get there early to give yourself enough time, or you could use a valet service nearby but my guess is it's expensive. Also, this place is very popular; you'd definitely want a reservation.

Dave Jaras

Delicious food... so much to try. Great wine. Great service. We walked out of the restaurant very impressed.

Mike Smith

Food great. Rod Stewart music loudly playing at dinner is a major distraction.

Uzma Siddiqui

For a weekend getaway to Philly, I was not expecting to take out time to eat Mediterranean food, but this was not what I was anticipating. Everything we eat ate was just flat out delicious, like the kitchen had taken time to make sure it tasted really good. I highly recommend this place. I particularly enjoyed the tahina hummus and and the veal kabobs.

Dylan G

The food here is really good. I went with a group of friends and just liked that everything came out just the way I like. I will always make sure to come here whenever I'm downtown.

Sachin Nanavati

Fresh, delicious innovative dishes. we got the tayim tasting menus which was great value. Wine pairing was a great choice too. Hummus was exquisite.

Fred Fleisher

NO WAY no. 1 restaurant in US. The hype is unbearable. So many drank the Cool Ade and gave 4/5 stars. Ambiance is mundane at best. Not an Aplus venue. Food varies from 6 beautiful veggie small plates to salty salty meats. Lamb shoulder hides inside fat and of course salt. Dessert not bad. None thrilling. Wine weak and grossly overpriced. Shared 3 mediocre glasses. Staff pleasant knowledgeable people but seem to begrudge time spent on only two peeps. Service spotty. Wine service slow and followed first course. Our table for two tiny. Pacing between plates leisurely appropriate. Overall not priced right or reviewed right. How excited might one get over cauliflower. Money better spent on Rittenhouse square. Two of us cost $210 with tip.

J Dubz

Some of the food came out cold, like the fried cauliflower and some dishes were over salted. Overall, good quality food. For the tuna tartar, I didn't think the Lima beans goes well with the fish. Wish I could've choose something else. Free sparkling water!

Kelley Hallworth

This is my favorite Isreali restaurant on the East Coast. I stop here every time I'm in Philly & every time the cuisine, the restaurant, the atmosphere, the hospitality is superb. You will never be disappointed, Zahav is golden.

Kingston Ko

Zahav lived up to its award-winning name. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and service was fast! The menu is served as small plates but each dish was packed with flavor. We opted for the tasting menu and corresponding wine pairing and we're completely stuffed by night's end. Highly recommended!

Jonathan Gray

The best meal I've ever had.

Joshua Spiegel

5 stars. But everyone already knows that. Whatever you do, get the hummus. It really is better than any other tou will ever have.

Rebecca Watson

Beautiful space. The drink were delicious. We will be coming back.

Casey Marsella

Excellent service and wonderful food! We did the tasting menu with the lamb. Our favorites were the peppers, hummus, lamb, rice and desserts. Everything else was delicious too! I agree that Zahav is one of the best restaurants in Philly. I don't need to go back though... once was enough for me. If you can get in, do it. Enjoy yourself! Then, check out the rest of Philly. We have a ton of excellent restaurants throughout the city, and many are BYOBS. Enjoy!

Ky Ferguson

Amazing food. Great service.

Aanya Udyavar

Loved the tasting menu !! The service is wonderful and extremely quick, considering how crowded this restaurant gets. My suggestion: try the lamb! it’s to die for!

Pankaj Rawat

Nice place to have food in a group

Marcia Klein

Plentiful food in what was served a la small plates, however, every single dish (incl bread) was highly seasoned and herbed and flavored. That's showing off a skill and enthusiasm but my taste buds wanted a break. Some break came with the last serving (the protein dish. (Cheap steak cuts cooked well, chicken was crispy and yum!) Friendly staff, music that was illogical with a dining experience (was it playing for me or the wait staff?) but not too loud. I found this vaunted experience comfortable and plentiful but not 5 star worthy. P.s.-Their wine list says "Wines from Palestine" but there is no such country. It does not exist.

Ravi Bayanker

This is my favorite place in Philly hands down. Has been since I moved here. But if you want their best dish you really need to make your reservations for 7p or earlier. 530 is your best bet.

Jahan Monirian

The four of us had the pleasure of sitting at the bar with Chris and Emily. We all did the chefs tasting menu and it was incredible! Every dish was beautifully plated and had amazing flavors. If your ordering a la Carter I recommend hummus, haloomi, fennel, cauliflower, mushrooms, chicken, and lamb were all incredible. The wine pairing was great, but the cocktails are also really cool and very well thought out. Every interaction with the staff was incredible. The food is great. The atmosphere is great. It’s an awesome spot and I hope to go again.

Freedman Morse

Let me start off with my brother and I will travel around the world for incredible food. We have been married for 40 years and we are definitely classified as “foodies”. We felt fortunate to get a coveted reservation at Zahav since we were only in Philly for two nights. The food was absolutely out of this world delicious, with burst of flavors in every dish and each bite. Our waiter was very attentive and gave us wonderful service; the restaurant manager Sarah, went over and beyond with incredible hospitality I.e. (the lamb and rice) to die for delicious . We started out with amazing drinks, and every dish that came out was beautiful and delicious flavors. Can’t say enough about this amazing restaurant but love, love, love! Must plan on our next trip to Philly for dinning at Zahav!

Nicole Ciecierski

Very small dishes and not satisfying. We all ordered a meat that was supposed to come with a side of rice. They gave us ONE super tiny bowl of rice for 4 of us. The waitress made a fuss when we asked for another bowl of rice. It's not worth the hype. I'm not impressed, I can make all the same foods but better. Oh also the waitress was offended that we didn't want to order hummus. We barley saw our waitress and when we did she was going to another table and ignoring us.. If you want to spend $14 on literally 5 little bella mushrooms or one small slither of eggplant then go here but if you want an actual meal, I advise going somewhere else. In fact, go to Israel since no where can compare to real Israeli food!

Azam Husain

Best restaurant I've ever been to. Have to try the tasting menu. Let's you taste many different dishes. This place is perfect for special occasions. They really accommodate to all celebrations. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They take your preferences into account in order to recommend dishes suited to your palate. Will definitely be returning. It's hard to get a reservation but once you've been you understand why. It was well worth the wait.

Heather G

What a great place to eat! The atmosphere was amazing with a great choice of food and drinks. Although the portions were small and not shareable, it was all absolutely delicious. I definitely recommend the cauliflower and hanger steak. Overall, a great experience!

Ben Pasquarosa

An absolutely unreal dinning experience. They offer you the opportunity to sample so many hand crafted dishes with a wide variety of flavor profiles. The staff even clear your table after every course. They have something here for everyone. Just make sure to plan and make a reservation early, because they are often booked for months in advance.

Joshua Silvestri

This was our second visit to Zahav in as many years and we'll be back again next year! There really is nothing else like this restaurant that I know of in the philly/bucks area. Thanks Zahav, for helping to make this our greatest Anniversary yet!

George Kvaratskhelia

This place is always amazing. From the salads and hummus to the lamb and hummus and the desserts and the hummus. It's all so good. Best restaurant in Philly no doubt.

Isaac HaLevy

I’ve been here many times and it never fails to deliver. Here’s a list of highlights for this Philadelphia treasure: - HUGE, gorgeous, thoroughly trained staff. From the greeters to the servers to the bus staff, all are impeccably friendly, model-attractive, well trained and eager to be of service - The menu is ever changing with a few staple items. All is delicious and beautifully presented - THE best home made pita & hummus on ANY continent! - the deserts & Turkish coffee- holy sh*t amazing! Negatives - what was a difficult reservation to get has become even more impossible since being ranked - deservedly - “best restaurant in the country”.

Mike Browning

Food is so unique and different. Service is friendly and consistent. It's definitely pricey, but it's quite the experience.

Julie Lefkowitz

Could not have been better. The food was astoundingly delicious, and the service was impeccable. Hoping to return if I manage to get another reservation!

Zohaib Ghatala

This was the first time we tried #Israelifood and we loved it. It's good to do the tasting menu, that way you get to try pretty much all their dishes, but i should tell that's a lot of food!! We absolutely loved their dessert. We wanna go back soon just to dessert and tea. The staff is super nice- friendly and efficient!

Andrew Zajac

Amazing food. Go with the chef's tasting menu

Porty Chapmen

What can I say about Zahav that hasn't already been said before? Out of all the "top"/James Beard/Michelin/etc restaurants I've been to, this stands out in particular for somehow balancing fantastic value with the warmth and hospitality of a top restaurant in the nation.

Ryan Bishop

This was the first time we tried #Israelifood and we loved it. It's good to do the tasting menu, that way you get to try pretty much all their dishes, but i should tell that's a lot of food!! We absolutely loved their dessert. We wanna go back soon just to dessert and tea. The staff is super nice- friendly and efficient

C A

The front door of this restaurant faces nothing. Their address is on St. James Place but access to the entrance seems to be from Dock St. We attended a private function at Zahav. We were seated in a private dining area, which was spacious for our group size. The main problem was the terrible acoustics in the room. Even though we were a small group the sound level was very high and it was difficult to have a conversation. Another problem was that Zahav did not provide a microphone for the people speaking at our gathering. The food was good and the servers did a good job. This was our first time eating at an Israeli restaurant and it was a unique experience. The food was served in stages on large community plates; the servers explained what food was on each plate.

Ben Smith

I got the opportunity to eat at Zahav last night and I have to say it definitely lived up to the hype. We were immediately seated for our 6:15 reservation. Our waiter was friendly and attentive the whole time. The drink selection was good. We selected the chef’s special ($60 pp) and just about every single thing they brought out was delicious. The hummus was literally the best I’ve ever tasted. The lamb shoulder was amazing, the six-part starter salad just had soooo much flavor. Two of the desserts were fantastic and the only thing I thought was just okay was the other two desserts (I’ll let you try them). This place really does deserve all the attention it is receiving, enjoy!

Cloyd Sementelli

Incredible service tops it all here! Many new flavors to experience! We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and were treated so well!

Michael Milner

The food in Zahav is a wonderful twist to typical Israeli food, offering new flavors and presentation to middle eastern cuisine. The service matches the quality of the food, expect really friendly waiters and staff. Fun music too! I’ve been a few times and always enjoy the atmosphere and food.

Harvey Goldberg

Food and service are exceptional and there are lots of vegan and vegetarian choices, which makes this a great place for a wide variety of dietary preferences. The appetizer salads are amazing - little bowls of vibrancy and savory feelings in your mouth. This was our second time at Zahav and it was again an amazing meal! Our server was well versed in all of the details of each food and wine item. We had the Tayim menu. Each course was so tasty and creative! The hummus is superb! Great atmosphere! Make sure you are hungry when you go to enjoy all of the various dishes!

ARUSHA ACHARYYA

It took 3 months for us to get a reservation but it was totally worth the wait. The salads and the bread were too good. All the dishes were small plate portions, we ordered all the dishes and most of them were delicious. For the dessert, we really liked the pear sorbet. Definitely going back again, if we can get a reservation

Tanya Coleman

I really loved this place. Quick, helpful, and friendly service. Prices are decent for the quality.

Mike Fronshtein

It has become a famiy tradition to celebrate out birthdays there. This place is still #1

Katherine Dilks

The food here is literally art. I have never eaten anything so delicious in my life. Fantastic service as well

Shanice Green

All I can say is WOW! Came here for my birthday dinner. I am not from Philly. Heard this place was great and it was not a disappointment! We came in at 9 they were booked up put our name on a list came back in an hour. Ordered a drink at the bar to wait for a table. The wait was well worth it. Food is insanely good. Waiter knowledgeable and just Awsome. Highly recommend going !

Tim Murphy

Great food, staff & atmosphere, good luck making reservations. Always can try for counter or chef's counter which both are still phenomenal. Homerun

Michael Jessie

Excellent service, couldn't have asked for a better experience. Only reason for 4 star rating is due to the fact I've had better tasting foot without having to book a reservation 60 days in advance. No complaints beyond i was looking for perfect and they fell just shy of that.

Dave O'Leary

Plan ahead to eat here. You won't be disappointed.

Tara John

The food was amazing. The ambience was very good. But the wait was the worst part. It's really hard to get an online reservation so we ended up going to the bar and had a three hours wait. But I think the wait was worth it. At least once in a life time ;) Their dessert - custard was an award winner. And the hummus is one of the best I had, very light and tasty.

Patrick Lyons

Recently rated Janes Beard Foundation #1 restaurant, this is a treat! Absolutely incredible dining experience. Highly reccomend the chef's tasting menu. From the divine cocktails, to the scrumptious desert it will not disappoint! Overall, once in a lifetime opportunity.

Ayesha SH

The food was ok. I don’t think it’s an expensive place to dine though. I ordered three plates of mezze and it cost me $30. The olive oil cake was decent which was $10. The service at the bar could be better.

B Hanson

Had the Tayim (tasting) with some friends, and it's a very good price point for the quality and quantity of food. Some of the items were average and some were outstanding. Service was OK but not great, but definitely would go back.

Stephanie Alvarez

SO WORTH THE WAIT! My friends & i went to Zahav for a birthday dinner, we all did the taste of zahav menu, ALL the food was amazing, the deserts were amazing, but most of all, the service was phenomenal. Peter was our server & he was so nice and attentive. the whole staff was nice, we were talking about j.cole bc we thought we heard his music playing, and one of the servers overheard us & actually played j.cole music, we were so happy that everyone there went above & beyond for us. can’t wait to visit again! thanks guys!

Bernie Girman Jr

Amazing dishes in a unique & pleasant atmosphere. Friendly, knowledgeable wait staff, service with a smile from beginning to end. A WINNER!

Emily Bever

Zahav came highly recommended by two girlfriends and it did not disappoint! For a group of more than two get a reservation. Otherwise wait for a bar seat and enjoy a cocktail in the lobby while you wait. Beautiful inside, great service, amazing food, and delicious cocktails. Can't wait for my next visit!!

Mark Seiden

this is a very good place but not the best restaurant in the us in a year.

David Weintraub

Only issue with Zahav is we waited on line and didn’t get seated til second sitting. The girls at check in seated 2 couples ahead of three other couples who were all well ahead of them. When confronted they had no excuse, or answers. We had all waited over 2 hours and these others were already eating. Worst part is they didn’t even want to acknowledge this fact. That said, the food was great and Christopher the bartender was outstanding. The food server needs to alert you though if something should be consumed quickly, like cheese that may harden. Not enough just to explain what it is when it’s time consumption sensitive. May be nitpicking but if you wanna be ‘best in America’, this matters. Minus the staff upfront, 5/5.

Rob S.

Lives up to the hype! Amazing array of flavors. High end dishes, yet has a cozy family style feel. Pricing is almost too reasonable for the quality! It is a bucket list type restaurant.

Helen Sanya

Unfortunately coming from Brooklyn on a day trip...3rd year on a row, to get those bar seats they give away at 4pm and this was third time been told to wait another 1,5 hours after already waiting for 1 hour...sorry Zahav, I tried so hard! I have a book, I love Michaels story, I taught cooking classes on you at the Brooklyn Kitchen, but you don’t love me back;(

Philip Carrington

One of the best restaurants I have been to. Great service and everything was delicious. We had 4 people go and ordered and shared a little bit of mostly everything on the menu.

Tyler Luu

Get the chef tasting with the lamb. Cheapest James Beard tasting menu I've had. Cant beat the quality to value ratio

MinJae Cho

If you want a reservation here, use your credit card company. Most higher-end cards come with a concierge service, and they make securing reservations much easier. The food and service here never disappoints. Everything on the menu tastes good and tastes healthy, super shareable, and the drinks are delicious as well. I won’t go into detail, because all their awards speak for themselves. The key to enjoying your meal here is to get the tasting menu and let them curate the experience for you (+ freebies). Just tell the servers what you don’t like on the menu, and you’ll get to try a diverse range of delicious middle eastern cuisine. Plus, the tasting menus are $50–60 per person, which is great value for the quality and quantity of dishes you get.

Max Theriault

Fantastic food and a fun atmosphere. The wait is long, but worth it. Try the tasting menu.

Taras Mukoseyev

I got the opportunity to eat at Zahav last night and I have to say it definitely lived up to the hype.

Michael Slonkosky

Best hummus and pita ever, amazing cocktails, absolutely divine lamb shoulder

Jeanine Rieck

Food and service were fantastic! The Chef Tasting is a must so you can get the full experience of their delicious and diverse menu!!

Sarah Cosgrove

Our experience exceeded our very high expectations! I brought my aunt there for her birthday along with my sister and my boyfriend. From beginning to end the food was incredible. Every dish was unique yet perfectly balanced. Our server was exceptional along with all the other staff that we interacted with. Thank you for making our experience so special!

Rick Soricelli

Wow. One of the best meals I've ever had in this city, and I've had many. Amazing. Best hummus on this continent. Really difficult to get a reservation. It took us months and in the end we had a 5:15 reservation on a Wed night. Totally worth it. If you have an opportunity to eat here, don't pass it up.

Jen Chicano

Zahav is EVERYTHING!!! Great service, great ambience and EXCELLENT FOOD

Erin Lightheart

Needless to say, the food here is amazing. Each did had complex flavors that were married together perfectly -- there was nothing I ate that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. We did the wine pairing along with each course, which was great fun and incorporated unique wines, including many grape varietals and vineyards I'd not heard of previously. Possibly most notable was the attentiveness and casual congeniality (read: not the least bit pretentious or stuffy) of the staff. They were happy to answer our many questions and went out of their way to make the experience fun -- our server even brought us a small plastic container filled with the spice blend from one of our favorite dishes of the evening, so we could take it home and try it on our own.

Auk Toeber

Okay, we (2) waited approx 1.5 hrs on the list for a seat at the bar on a Wednesday evening (5:35 pm), but hella worth it!

Wendy Baker

Heaven on earth- zahav- where have you been my whole life??!! The food- divine- The ambience and service- above and beyond. Wish we actually lived in Philly because I’d make this spot a habit! I hadn’t been here in a long time, not sure why but I already plan to go back. The food is delicious and easily shared. Staff is attentive. The atmosphere is energetic and fun. Can’t wait to return!

Booyahkahshah shah

Ehh. Not bad the flavors are there. I'm not thinking James Beard winning but it does offer your palate a punch of the Israel

Rocco IV

Everything was excellent, from the food, both taste and variety, to the wait staff, to the atmosphere, clean restrooms, truly well done

Phil Donahue

We really enjoy the food and the flavors. But reservations mean you will be up at midnight 60 days before you want to eat. On our first visit we were a 15 minutes early but were seated right away. We ordered cocktails while sorting out the menu ultimately picking the chef's menu with the wine pairing. Dinner accelerated from there. First course and wine arrived before our drinks. Dishes flew onto the table and the pressure to move on kept building. Not a great first experience and given the prices expected a reasonably paced meal. The food was delicious. We have his cookbooks: pure delight. The wines were very good and not from your typical wine regions: Turkey, Israel, Austria and a lesser known wine from south africa. Food great. Service was very good but frenetic to the point of distraction. Our second visit was with a group of friends and food was again delightful and service was less tense. You have to go to Zahav and experience the food. You will enjoy it.

Araxi Bozadjian

Great food but for me, the portions were small. Very tasty food though and I am from the Middle East so very familiar with this palate

Scott Brooks

Our second time, impeccable service and the food is out of this world. It's a must go. Get the grilled duck hearts and the haloumi

Aaron Hamilton

I'm here from out of town, and a couple drinks in with a new friend I came to Zahav. The hummus and laffah moved me emotionally, I nearly cried; it brought so many good memories of growing up. Try it, it is art, and it's a trick on your sweetest, warmest emotions if you're me.

Neeteesh Baghel

The best Humus and Pita I have ever had. Pita was soft and melting in mouth. Main course size is too small so you can focus on trying their different Humus for filling. Dessert was amazing too. I have already been twice here and would love to go again. If you like wine try the Israel wine they have. Getting reservation is tough, there is at least a month waiting but you can try going after 10 PM that’s when table starts to get free. Or you can sit at the bar and order food there but there is also a waiting.

Saun Waiters

We had the Tayrim (sp) and couldn't have been more pleased!!! It was a truly transcendent experience. All of the food was exceptional but the dessert custard was from another planet! The music choices that were played made the experience even more of a good time. Last but not least, THE SERVICE! every single staff member made us feel as if we were family who they hadn't seen in years. They seemed to be enjoying themselves just as much as we were. I have never had a more enjoyable dining experience in my life. I fully understand why they were voted best restaurant in America.

Sergei Chekov

amazing food and it is an amazing value

Monica Beckwith

Wow! Beautiful setting and delicious menu. The pre and post drinks are a hoot! Loved it. This was recommended by a friend and didn't disappoint. I was solo and hence got a seat right away. But reservations are highly recommended. If you are in the area, this sure is a place not to miss. Great take on traditional dishes.

Tony Ribson

This was the first time we tried #Israelifood and we loved it. It's good to do the tasting menu, that way you get to try pretty much all their dishes, but i should tell that's a lot of food!! We absolutely loved their dessert. We wanna go back soon just to dessert and tea. The staff is super nice- friendly and efficient!

Kaged Wun

Great atmosphere. The lamb and chicken were excellent. Top notch service. Very nice and friendly staff.

Alyssa Trevor

The food here is really good. I went with a group of friends and just liked that everything came out just the way I like. I will always make sure to come here whenever I'm downtown.

Jared Lange

They recently received a James Beard award for best restaurant in the north east. I will agree with that whole heartedly. An amazing experience with amazing food. We ate way to much yet wanted to order more. There is a reason it is difficult to get a reservation.

Reina Esposito

Nice place to have delicious food and the way they serve their customer was also appreciable. I like the atmosphere was location of the restaurant. The price they charge was also decent . Overall perfect place for food lovers.

Ryan Sterling

Exceptional dining experience. Incredible value for the amount of food served.

Chris Cusimano

Have gone twice now - the food is so interesting and delicious. But even more memorably, the staff has been unbelievably helpful and friendly each time I've been. You wont be disappointed.

Drew Vaughn

Amazing authentic Israeli cuisine. We made reservations two months in advance, and it was completely worth it. Dinner was a two hour affair that started with an amazing choice of hummus and six vegetables. After that we had a variety of four different small plates to share between my girlfriend and I. We then had the Romanian beef kababs and chicken shishlik for dinner, which were both amazing. To cap it all off was delicious desserts, olive oil cake and chocolate konafi.

Aldo Ramirez

Truly amazing. A busy place for a Monday night, and rightfully so. We had no reservation, but they managed to squeeze us in when someone cancled last minute. We did the recommended tasting menu, and decided to pick our own bottles of wine, though they did have a wine pairing as well as an option. From start to finish everything was perfect. Well presented, and well prepared. If you got a seat facing the kitchen you could also see much of the food being prepared in their open kitchen. Though everyone that worked there did such a great job, I have to say our server, Leah went above and beyond. If you're feeling adventurous don't forget to try the duck hearts, you won't regret it. Also those desserts. Try them all if you can.

Gregor Manukian

Every single dish was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Friendly and attentive wait staff. One of the best meals I've had all year! Will definitely be coming back.

Ben Foster

Everything I ate at this restaurant was fantastic. Each course was spaced out very well, allowing time to finish drinks and converse with others while also fully enjoying what was prepared. Our servers were very knowledgeable about what was in each dish and took the time to explain everything and answer all questions we had about the food. I highly recommend this restaurant to any who visit Philly, and hope to go there again myself.

rusha bhattacharya

The ambience was cozy and comfy, perfect for a date night. Staff was friendly. The food was to die for! Had really really delicious middle eastern food after a long time. Everything on the menu was lip- smacking! Cant wait to go back.

Alex D'Autrechy

Totally new experience for me the food was phenomenal, tried a bit of everything definitely recommend!

Christopher H

There's a reason that this is one of the most difficult restaurants to get a reservation in Philadelphia. The food and service (in particular) are fantastic. I heartily suggest the chef's tasting menu when you finally get a seat. You lose a bit of choice, but the courses are fantastic and it's the only way the signature dish of the restaurant.

Harsh Jog

Lives up to the hype. Go in with an empty stomach if you wish to truly enjoy the Chef's special tasting menu with their tailor made wine pairings!

K S

Wow! Amazing food and great service. Loved the small plates. You’ve got to try this place.

Brian Sacks

Great food..great service

Mel g

I don’t understand how this restaurant has such good reviews. First off, they’re insanely expensive for the portions they gave. It’s $14 for 4 tiny pieces of chicken. It wouldn’t satisfy a kid even. My table of 4 ordered meals on the grill which means we all get our separate rice. The waitress only brought out one tiny plate of rice to share. We had to ask for more rice, which was annoying. Give us automatically our rice. Don’t give a tiny plate to share. Who said we want to share a small plate? Also, the service was horrible. The waitress Lauren wasn’t giving attitude or anything to me. But my issue with her was that she never came once to ask how everything was. She’d run by us and I’d have to immediately stop eating and yell “excuse me!” For the price I’m paying here, I’d expect much better service. She suggested we order 3-4 meals each to be full. I didn’t want to, not when the super tiny plates are $14 a person. I got 2 mini plates and a drink. I walked in hungry and literally left hungry. All that for $45. Never coming here again

Joseph Marthaler

Had all kinds of ethnic food brought out. Very unique and tasty. We didnt have a reservation, but we had a wonderful time at the bar.