Philadelphia｜Zahav — An Israeli Restaurant Overflowing with Heart

Hidden in a quiet corner of Old City, tucked inside a standalone building, Zahav is that famously hard-to-book Mediterranean/Israeli gem. Dining Room menu is fixed-price at $75, covering 12 courses + dessert. Not every dish was to my taste — but the effort and sincerity were undeniable. So here’s my record, purely personal 🖋️. 🥙 Laffa Bread | Salatim | Hummus-Tehina A vibrant trio to start. The hummus pairs perfectly with warm, charred, chewy laffa. The small salads (beet, cabbage, etc.) weren’t really my thing — but colorful and fresh. 🍅 Heirloom Tomatoes A refreshing salad I genuinely loved. Assorted heirloom tomatoes in all colors, dotted with feta and tiny peaches. Light, layered, beautifully balanced. 🐟 Kampachi Crudo Yellowtail sashimi topped with nuts and a touch of spicy chili sauce. Fresh fish, the heat cutting through any richness. 🥒 Zucchini Schnitzel Fried zucchini rolls — crispy, light. Good, not great. 🧀 Phyllo-wrapped Haloumi Fried Cypriot cheese wrapped in phyllo. Best eaten hot — rich, milky, delicious. 🐟 Branzino A Mediterranean classic. Crispy skin, tender flesh — simple and well-executed. 🍗 Chicken Shishlik Likely grilled chicken skewer meat, sliced. Soft, slightly salty, savory. 🍖 Pomegranate Lamb Shoulder Slow-braised until fork-tender. For my palate — a touch too salty, but the flavor was undeniably rich. ☕ Turkish Coffee Ice Cream Cake My favorite dessert of the night. Intensely coffee-flavored ice cream cake, layered with thick Turkish coffee ice cream inside. Sweetness level? Perfect for Asian tastebuds 👌. #HiddenGemRestaurant #Philadelphia #PhillyEats #MediterraneanCuisine #IsraeliFood #Zahav