Tell anyone you’re from Philadelphia, and chances are they’ll ask you about Zahav. This Society Hill institution is as busy now as it was when it opened its doors back in 2008 – and it’s easy to see why. The concept is simple but highly effective: everyone has the same salatim and mezze but you then decide to go either for the Al Ha’esh option, where you get charcoal-grilled skewers, or Mesibah, which means the lamb shoulder (or one of a couple of other specialties). Along with the delicious laffa bread and hummus, the lamb has rightly gained legendary status; it is brined and then smoked over hardwood for a few hours before being braised with pomegranate molasses. It comes with delicious chickpeas and crispy Persian rice and is so soft and yielding, you won’t need your knife. The whole place is run like the well-oiled machine it has become; you just need to be ready when they release reservations weeks in advance.