K'Far is Bringing the Israeli-Style Food Philly Needs

Michael Solomonov continues to scoop up accolades by presenting the flavors of his homeland.

Michael Solomonov is sitting in a light pink banquette at K’Far, his sleek and sunny Israeli style bakery, and cafe that just opened this summer near Rittenhouse Square. The 41-year-old chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, documentary travel host, and surfer sips a chai latte and contemplates how busy is too busy. “I’m not sure,” the Israel-born Solomonov muses, “but I don’t feel like stopping. I think about that all the time, but, as of right now, we have an amazing team—300 employees—and we are doing awesome things in the city.” Whether it is with his chocolate rugelach, lamb kebabs, hummus tehina or shakshouka stew, Solomonov is proving that there is an abundance of gastronomic pleasures to be found in his homeland’s cuisine.

By the end of the fall, Solomonov and his business partner, Steve Cook, will have added K’Far—as well as Merkaz, a sandwich spot at 12th and Sansom; and Laser Wolf, a kebab shop in Kensington—to their dining empire, which already includes Zahav, Federal Donuts, Dizengo, Abe Fisher and Goldie. e chef, who has earned ve venerated James Beard awards—including Zahav’s 2019 award for outstanding restaurant in the country—will be honored during the James Beard Foundation’s annual Taste America dinner series tour in Philadelphia (Oct. 30 to Nov. 1). Stop now? Solomonov is just getting started.