Frozen Labneh Is the New Tehina Shake at Philly’s Latest Dizengoff

The third location of Dizengoff, the hummus shop from the team behind Zahav, is up and running in University City as of Monday, December 2. It’s located inside the Franklin’s Table food hall on the University of Pennsylvania campus — the food hall, at 34th and Walnut, is open to everyone.

Owners Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook first got Philly hooked on the creamy, perfect hummus at Zahav, a James Beard Award winner for best restaurant in the country, before opening their counter-service eatery dedicated to the Middle Eastern export. The first Dizengoff opened in 2014 on 16th and Sansom, followed by an outpost inside the Whole Foods by the Art Museum. (Locations in New York City’s Chelsea Market and in Miami didn’t last).

The newest Dizengoff joins sister spot Goldie at Franklin’s Table. Vegan and kosher falafel shop Goldie is, of course, known for its tehina shake, a blended tahini-based drink concocted by the CookNSolo restaurant group’s culinary director, Caitlin McMillan. For the University City Dizengoff, McMillan came up with a new sweet option: frozen labneh. It’s served in a cup or cake cone, in original, strawberry shortcake (the original topped with house-made strawberry-rose shortcake), and chocolate shell (dipped in chocolate hard shell and sprinkled with peanuts and sesame seeds).

CookNSolo

The savory menu includes the unadorned hummus with paprika and parsley, and hummus topped with eggplant, pomegranate molasses, and fresh pomegranate; lima beans, tomato, leeks, and egg; or hawaij-spiced beef cheeks with black lime pistachios. Each dish comes with salad and warm pita for scooping the hummus up. To drink, there’s tart mint lemonade.

It’s open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Dizengoff comes hot on the heels of Solomonov and Cook’s new Israeli sandwich shop, Merkaz, which opened in Center City last week.

CookNSolo

• Mike Solomonov’s Dizengoff Is Headed to One of Philly’s New Food Halls
• Franklin’s Table: The Ultimate Guide to Philly’s New Food Hall
• Where to Eat Around Penn and Drexel
• Mike Solomonov’s Israeli Sandwich Shop Merkaz Is Open for All Your Schnitzel Needs