Mia Caringal

If you are ever in Philly scout out a hard sought reservation at Zahav 8 weeks prior to dining before noon. This is actually a great bargain and lots of diners including us packed leftovers. The to go bag is huge and so is the to go box! Seriously, they could easily charge an extra $20-$40 for the per diner fee for the amount of food and level of service. Or even increase the staff 's included livable wage tip of 20% to 25%-30%.

This is an Israeli restaurant.

May Menu 2024

IN THE BEGINNING
Hummus-Tehina
Laffa Bread with Za'atar
Salatim (Israeli version.of Korean Ban Chan)
Beets with Tehina
Twice-cooked Eggplant
Broccolini with Caramelized Onions
Pickled Napa Cabage (not Kim Chi with red pepper but like Summer Kim Chi)
Moroccan Carrots
Spicy Fennel

We loved the Beets! The Broccolini was cooked like Collards. Excellent dish and unexpected! Spicy Fennel is not that spicy.

MEZZE
Fluke Crudo - Schug, Radish, Preserved Lemon
Hen in the Woods Mushrooms - Green Garlic Tehina, Radish, Fresh Za'atar
Seared Haloumi - Apricot Jam, Olives, Cilantro
Grilled Asparagus - Hard Boiled Eggs, Anchovy, Gribenes
Courtesy of the Chef was Marcona Almond Stuffed Medjool Dates
In this group of dishes the Grilled Asparagus and Courtesy Marcona Almond Stuffed Medjool Dates were top winners but everything all night long was delightfully.

Then you have the BIG DECISION!!
Which way to go for main dinner!
Our choice:

Dry-Aged Duck Au Jus
Duck Pilaf
Turnip, Carrot, and Tumeric Pickles
Tahini

We were so full at this point that we ate 3 slices of Duck and my friend took it home.

We swapped the dessert and opted to finish with a chilled bowl of Malabi Custard - Rose, Cherry, Rhubarb, and White Chocolate! Generous serving and great use of actual Rhubarb.

This restaurant is up front about adding a 20% gratuity so their staff can have a livable wage. Again
Honestly, this amount should be higher. We both left extra tips. The staff just flows at this restaurant.

There is a back entrance if you have mobility issues and cannot enter via the stairs. It's a wooden gate and there is a bell ringer for assistance. It's well marked. But if you have mobility issuesand and can't do the front stairs it is a great option to have.

Cocktails were Open Sesame- Scotch, Calvados, Sesame, Cardamom, Bitters and Turkish Coffee Martini but she switched the Vodka for Rye, Amato, Cardamom, Arak.

I had a Salap Shirley Temple

See photo which is the QR Code for the Tour. There is a lot of information in this building for such a small space. I took over 100 photos!

This is the former FDNY Engine Company Number 30 in a renovated 1904 Fire House. It's sadly not ADA Compliant. You cannot navigate a wheelchair downstairs as the exhibits are very close to each other. I don't think a walker or wheeled walker can navigate the space. If you use a cane and have good agility the downstairs flooring is not an even, smooth surface. But there is an elevator. However you still have to use stairs to access the bathrooms on floor 1 1/2 landing. The stairs are evenly spaced and have a strong railing that was a banister to the 1st Floor. The bathrooms are not unisex.

They instruct you to tour the bottom floor then go to floor two. Chronologically you should see the pre and Colonial exhibit on Floor 2 first. The 9-11 room is downstairs and while beautifully done there is a jarring disconnect due to the museum's small size to stop on the subject of music then walk straight into the children's interactive exhibit immediately afterwards.

The Museum documents a variety of aspects of life with the predecessor and current FDNY. There are several antique vehicles and currently they have a reproduction on loan from Colonial Williamsburg. The Museum documents Marine Division, Marching Band and even the Emergency Kit for Last Rites in the Catholic Church so a priest just needs to have in person access.

Gift shop was well stocked with unisex sizing and there was a substantial gift items for children.

I had overslept and missed breakfast. So I wanted a hearty lunch but without leftovers. I had the shaved corned beef sandwich which was piled high and available with tomato, lettuce, coleslaw and pickle. I had ordered the potato salad but I prefer mine with more eggs. The iced coffee comes with an assortment of sweeteners and a half and half pitcher. The only reason I am not giving this a 5 Star Review is the unisex bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible. They do have sufficient chrome railings. If we were not in a rush we would have ordered dessert.

There are several photos on Google already. I am adding the wicker loveseat from 1880 during the time of the Neills. This is part of an original 5 piece set of which 3 remain. Tge arm chairs were already uploaded by someone else. This is the only existing slave dwelling in Austin. There are a few other exterior photos at different angles. Due to this not being an agricultural producing plantation the dwelling matches the exterior of the main house. However, it had a dirt floor and little is known about the residents. Approximately 10 ten enslaved persons lived in the two floors.