K'Far Cafe Philadelphia

"This Israeli bakery and cafe in Rittenhouse lives up to its hype as a member of the Zahav family. Get at least one pastry—we're into the lemon cheesecake babka and marzipan challah danishes—and something bready, like a Jerusalem bagel or thick kubaneh toast topped with whipped ricotta and brown sugar. The place gets busy on weekends. Come on a weekday if you want to avoid the lines and eat a $5-and-under treat that you’ll swaddle like a newborn." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"At Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook’s Israeli cafe and bakery, stunning pastries — savory borekas, pistachio sticky buns, caramel apple babka, and chocolate rugelach — are served alongside Jerusalem bagel sandwiches and kubaneh toasts. Breakfast here is an excellent way to begin your morning, and lunch brings chicken Caesar salad and vibrant spritzes to the table. At next-door sibling Goldie, find falafel sandwiches, shawarma fries, hummus platters, and dairy-free tahina shakes." - Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme

"A Jerusalem bagel is a very special thing, and the version at K’Far Cafe — from Zahav owners Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook — is a standout. Order it pressed like a panini with smoked salmon, pickled cucumbers, and za’atar butter for a sandwich-meets-bagel hybrid." - Eater Staff, Ernest Owens

"Borekas, bagels, and babka are only the beginning of the brunch options at Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook’s daily daytime destination in Rittenhouse Square. The multifaceted, Israeli menu is full of stuffed Jerusalem bagel sandwiches, bright salads, and some lovely laminated pastries." - Eater Staff, Ernest Owens

"Rittenhouse can sometimes feel like it should include a “sponsored by CookNSolo” tagline, giving the pervasiveness of projects there from partners Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something special about places like K-Far, the Israeli bakery that opened in 2019 (and has since expanded to a Brooklyn location). Pastry chef Katreena Kanney ensures creations like a just-sweet-enough pistachio sticky bun and a warming, wintery caramel apple babka are executed consistently. The cafe also happens to be home to one of the city’s best breakfast sandwiches, an egg and cheese riff on a Jerusalem bagel complemented by spicy schug, za’atar, and Philly’s signature Cooper Sharp cheese. Wash it all down with an assertively spiced Yemenite iced coffee." - Eater Staff, Ernest Owens