Zahav

Hummus Worth the Reservation

4 of 5

Zahav opened in 2008 on St James Place in Society Hill and changed what a city thinks Israeli food can be. The room is modern and warm, the menu is built for sharing, and the whole meal starts with laffa baked in a taboon, hot enough to make you forget your manners, served with hummus and a run of small salads called salatim.

Then you choose. The pomegranate lamb shoulder with chickpeas is the dish people fly in for, and they are right. The charcoal grilled skewers are the sharper, smokier alternative. The hospitality traditions the restaurant talks about are real: the pacing is generous and the table fills up with plates in a way that makes strangers friendly. The Lemonanna is the drink to order if you want to know what a sober afternoon tastes like. Wine is thoughtful, and so are the desserts.

Book it even if it means a flight. Michelin lists it among its Recommended restaurants in Philadelphia. Reservations go fast, so plan ahead. Share everything. Do not skip the salatim because you are saving room, since that is like skipping the opening act at a good concert. The headliner is coming either way.

Order this: Laffa from the taboon with hummus and salatim, Pomegranate lamb shoulder with chickpeas, Charcoal grilled skewers, A Lemonanna
The damage: $$$
Go: Book early, and bring a table of people who share
Find it: 237 St James Pl, Philadelphia, PA 19106