Zahav

"Few things in life will train you for the rejection you’ll face when trying to reserve a table at Zahav. Only going to the DMV on a Saturday can come close. But when you do get a chance to eat at this Israeli icon in Old City , you’ll get to taste a rotation of small plates like fried carrots, fluffy laffa bread, and silky hummus. Everything on their rotating $90 five-course tasting menu is good, but their tender pomegranate-glazed lamb shoulder and juicy swordfish coated with earthy kale tzatziki are the headliners (when they’re on the menu). They also have a $45 wine pairing featuring all Middle Eastern producers. Reservations at Zahav are released on a rolling basis, 4 weeks to-the-day, one day at a time, at 11 am ET. The bar, where you can order a la carte or the whole tasting menu, is always available for walk-ins. Otherwise, see if your cousin who took Coding 101 can hack you a reservation." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"From the phyllo-wrapped haloumi and layered salatim to the Middle Eastern wine list and impeccable service, Zahav is worth the struggle for the reservation. This Israeli restaurant in Old City has had nonstop hype since opening in 2008 thanks to its expansive tasting menu of dishes like silky hummus, charred beets and eggplant, and pomegranate lamb shoulder. The experience is upscale but never stiff, and feels special whether it’s a random Tuesday at the bar or a big deal date night. Reservations are dropped eight weeks ahead to-the-day at 11am in a rolling fashion. So if you want to have laffa bread and salatim on Christmas, check the website at 10:59am on 11/6/2024. Otherwise, see if your cousin who took Coding 101 can hack you a reservation." - alison kessler, candis mclean

"Reservations at Zahav are released on a rolling basis, 4 weeks to-the-day, one day at a time, at 11 am ET. The bar, where you can order a la carte or the whole tasting menu, is always available for walk-ins. Otherwise, see if your cousin who took Coding 101 can hack you a reservation." - Candis R. McLean

"Zahav is an award-winning restaurant in Philadelphia known for its Israeli cuisine. It is the flagship restaurant of Solomonov and Cook's CookNSolo hospitality group." - Erin Perkins

"Zahav, the 2019 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Restaurant, first introduced Philly to the delights of Israeli cuisine and its myriad influences more than a decade ago. The restaurant continues to set the standard with its menu of laffa, meze, and grilled meats and vegetables. In addition to the stellar service, the showstopper at Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook’s restaurant is the pomegranate molasses-braised lamb shoulder, but even something as simple and now-ubiquitous as hummus is genuinely eye-opening here. Reservations open at 11 a.m. the first day of each month for the entire month ahead." - Eater Staff, Ernest Owens