Tasting Menus - An Indecisive Girl's Dream

If you're anything like me, then you hate only ordering one thing off of a menu when a million things are catching your eye. I give you the tasting menu- the quickest way to try everything on the menu, while simultaneously obliterating your waistline and your wallet. If you are on a budget or don't like to try new foods, then I wouldn't recommend, but if you are bold, daring and down to try anything (and drop over $100), then I recommend you get a taste of one of these menus! This list is fairly short because I don't do this every day...

1. Suraya 1528 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Getting a reservation at Suraya is almost as hard as Zahav, but it is worth every penny. Although you may be waiting a bit even after you have made a reservation, which is a little frustrating not going to lie, the inside is so breathtaking that you will spend this time mostly awing at the decor with your mouth agape. If you're pandemic dining, the outdoor patio is also so pretty that you might forget the global crisis for an hour or so. Currently, they are only offering their prixe fix menu, which I am not complaining about. You get five courses for $66, but the first course is more like five in and of itself. We started with their very fluffy pita bread accompanied by a variety of dips (the muhamma was my favorite). Then, we got the dolmas and fried cauliflower (which is not pictured because my picture was blurry). For our entrees, we got the branzino, which really is larger than the plate, and the lamb. By dessert, we were too full to finish, but we made a valiant effort to eat the kunefe with rose syrup, which was actually my favorite course of the entire meal and I wish I had saved more room for.

2. Sampan 124 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Sampan was my first ever tasting menu, and if you're going to lose your tasting menu virginity to one restaurant, I'd recommend Sampan! You choose each of your eight courses; although, making this choice is like choosing your favorite child. We ended up going with the pork bao buns (my first ever bao buns), rock shrimp, soup dumplings, chicken skewers, pad thai, something I don't remember (sorry!), soft shell crab and banana and Nutella mini ice cream cones. We actually ordered an additional dessert- the ice cream sushi roll- because how can you pass on a sushi roll rolled in peanuts, filled with vanilla ice cream and dipped in chocolate "soy sauce"?? As you can tell, this was a night of firsts. After we waddled out of here, even my boyfriend agreed that I looked like I was pregnant, and we definitely had some leftovers. In addition to the food, the inside of Sampan is worth the price tag; the multicolored incandescent walls, contemporary seating and large fish tank makes you feel like you're in an alternate dimension.

3. Apricot Stone 1040 North 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123

My boyfriend is Armenian, so he is used to eating some authentic Armenian cooking made by his grandmother. It's pretty hard to beat that, but Apricot Stone in Northern Liberties met and even surpassed his high standards. You're going to want try a little bit of everything here, which is what the tasting menu is for. We got the dips trio (hummus, labneh and baba ghanoush) with pita chips, grape leaves, spanikopita, cheese boreg, falafel, chicken and lamb skewers and baklava. I may not be Armenian myself, but after going to Apricot Stone I wish I was. Not to mention, the staff is so warm and welcoming that you feel like you are in someone's home, not a restaurant. And for only $50 each, this is one of the cheaper deals.

4. Zama 128 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This tasting menu is definitely for the risk takers and the adventurous at heart, so if you are a picky eater or don't like surprises, then you won't like this. Not only is every course the chef's choice, but they are also all Japanese delicacies, so I honestly didn't know what the majority of these courses were when I was eating them, and I most certainly do not remember now. Whatever they were, they tasted great! They have a couple of tasting menus to choose from, so the price depends on which menu you pick, but either way it's definitely on the more expensive end of the spectrum. However, the atmosphere and high quality of the food, coupled with the suspense of wondering what's next makes for a fun and unique experience.

5. Vetri Cucina 1312 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Nothing will ever beat Vetri. It may be in the fifth spot on this list (which is not in order), but it's first in my heart. I was treated here for my 21st birthday by my boyfriend, whose mom was floored that he could get a reservation only four hours in advance. I guess it pays off having your birthday on a Tuesday. If I named every course in this blog, you'd be reading for hours, but Vetri definitely has the biggest (and most expensive) tasting menu in Philadelphia with 20 courses (yes, you read that right) for the low, low price of about $150 per person. In addition to the complimentary spritzer, I also got a glass of red- my first legal drink at a restaurant- and I had to ask the waitress to card me because I wanted the validation of finally being 21. This teeny tiny restaurant is also virtually in someone's apartment, and the staff make you feel right at home. They only offer the tasting menu and let a few couples in at a time to maintain the ambiance, so if you want to get your foodie a gift that they will cherish forever, save up your money and take them to Vetri, but make sure you make a reservation. The restaurant is currently closed until further notice because of COVID, but Marc Vetri is selling DIY cooking kits, so you can experience it in your own home! Unfortunately, it won't save you much money...

6. Zahav 237 St James Pl, Philadelphia, PA 19106

I did it. After two years of failed attempts, I finally got a reservation at Zahav. Perhaps I have the pandemic to thank for discouraging people to go out to eat, bankrupting most of America and pushing the time reservations open from 7 AM to 11 AM. Okay, that was a cruel joke, but regardless, I was so happy to finally go to Zahav, voted "best restaurant in America," and see what all the fuss was about. While I'm not sure how valid that claim is, it is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. It may have still been humid and muggy at 8 PM, but we sat under the roof of their backyard patio, away from the bustling streets and passersby. For drinks (this was the only other tasting menu besides Vetri where I was able to order a drink), we got their housemade lemonanas. For food, we let the chef mostly choose, but we also requested a few special items. Like Suraya, Zahav's sister restaurant, we started off with pita and dips, which included hummus with wax beans, kimchee, roasted eggplant (my favorite), matbusha, Morroccan carrots, fennel and beets (which we barely had room on table for). Then, we got fried cauliflower, deconstructed kofta and haloumi (which we specifically asked for and received free of charge). Next, we got the branzino and sausage, and finally the main course: pomegranate lamb shoulder and crispy rice, which we barely left a dent in because it was so huge. For dessert, we got the sorbet and custard, and again like Suraya, I wish I had more room because the custard was one of my favorite parts of the meal, tied with the cauliflower, haloumi and lamb. Needless to say, I got another meal out of this, and if I am ever fortunate enough to get another reservation, I will be back to do it again!