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Housed in an historic 19th-century firehouse in Olde Kensington, just four blocks from sister restaurant Laser Wolf, Jaffa Bar is where executive chef-partner Andrew Henshaw pays homage to the flavors of its namesake, Jaffa, the ancient port city in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Henshaw emphasizes fish, seasonal vegetables, and citrus (peep the orange logo) inspired by his previous family trips to Israel, including Jaffa culinary tours. The pescatarian and vegetarian-friendly menu involves lots of cured proteins with house-made spices (harissa, schug, amba) and sauces common to Middle Eastern cuisine. But Jaffa Bar diverges away from strict kosher rules and the typical appetizer, entree, and dessert flow.

“Every night, we get to have this party, and people are going to come have a good time,” says Henshaw. His aim is to recreate the vibes of Jaffa, where friends meet over drinks and snacks or bounce around for a second dinner. “You can come here for a seafood tower or ceviche, crudos, and salads. Or have fried chicken or a burger and a beer.”

And there’s plenty of room to create your own experience at Jaffa Bar: The 5,000-square-foot restaurant’s ground floor houses two bars (a 10-seat oyster bar and 15-seat cocktail bar) and 32 seats of booths and high tops. The second-floor dining room features an 11-seat bar and 60 seats at dining tables.

With Philadelphia’s prime dining season upon us, here are five signature dishes to order at Jaffa Bar, as recommended by Henshaw.

The post At Jaffa Bar in Philadelphia, the Citrus-Rich Mediterranean Bursts to Life appeared first on Resy | Right This Way.