I’m just going to go out on a limb and say that Suraya might be the best restaurant in Philly right now. If you love the flavors of the Levant (think Lebanon, Syria and Israel), then I can confidently say you are going to love Suraya.

In the evening, Suraya is a gorgeous and unpretentious fine dining experience suitable for a date or dinner with friends. I love to come with a few friends so we can order lots of items from the menu for the table to share.

Suraya also has an all-day cafe and garden that offers casual dining from an abbreviated menu. If you want something quick, their market sells takeaway food and pantry items like spices as well.

Whether you are here for lunch or dinner, you’re going to want to start with the mezza, like hummus, baba ganoush, kibbeh, and my favorite, a roasted red pepper and walnut spread called muhammara. The first time I ate at Suraya, the muhammara was so good I ordered two. All of these come with warm fresh-baked pita.

You could easily make a whole meal out of mezza but I also recommend trying the kawarma and djej meshwi from the mashawi courses. And dessert – the kanafeh and chai tea are delicious!

If you want to come for dinner, I suggest making a reservation on their website. Suraya is located in the Fishtown neighborhood, easily accessible via the Market-Frankford line – just get off at Girard. Enjoy!