Category Archives: Jerusalem

July Foodie Roundup

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Summer is here and it is wonderful to enjoy eating and drinking outside. There is once again no shortage of restaurant news from the Israeli culinary scene.

Kosher

Naya, a kosher Asian fusion restaurant, has opened Moshav Beit Nakofa in the Jerusalem Hills. This restaurant is from the owners of Derech Hagefen in Moshav Beit Zayit and serves sushi, Asian dishes and a variety of cocktails.

Yehoyada Nizri, a finalist of Master Chef Israel 2018, has opened a slow-food restaurant on Shamai in Jerusalem called Petora. The theme of the menu is meat and bread, with rich, slow-cooked meat dishes such as beef ribs cooked for 12 hours and Asado in a sweet wine sauce.

Mitz Marak is a new casual vegan cafe on Hillel serving a range of salads, sandwiches and, as the name suggests, soups and juices.

Tap House TLV has opened on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv, where MEX & CO used to be. The ground floor is designed like a traditional pub and the top floor is more relaxed with mattresses and pillows, there is also a garden and terrace. The bar walls have electronic beer taps using a charge card so you can refill your glass whenever you want and there is a kosher bar menu.

Rooftop bar is a bar lounge on the roof of the new Prima Millennium Hotel in Ra’anana. Menu items include light meat dishes and a variety of wines, beers and cocktails. The hotel also has a restaurant called Escape Restobar with a more extensive menu and a good business lunch option.

Another new kosher restaurant in Netanya and this time it is dairy. The Butler in the Medi Terre Hotel is a Mediterranean style brasserie with an emphasis on Italian food. Traditional dishes include Burrata with tomato salad, Arancini and Truffle Risotto.

Papa has also opened in Netanya, serving burgers, steaks and various meat pizzas.

Although it is located in the Poleg Industrial Area next to Ikea,  Bredo has a rustic feel to the décor and outside terrace, with an extensive dairy breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, as well as a bakery and cake shop for take-away.

Plomari 29 is a Greek dairy tavern which recently opened in Rosh Pina. On Friday afternoon there is a Kabbalat Shabbat with a live performance by a Greek band.

Not Kosher

Mr Wolf is a new lounge bar which has opened on Shlomzion Hamalka where La Boca and Canela used to be featuring techno music.

So-Bing is a Korean dessert place which has just arrived in Israel with the first branch on Bograshov Street and King George Street in Tel Aviv. The signature dish is a Korean dessert, similar to a snow cone, made from shaved ice with sweet toppings such as chocolate, banana, cookies, mangoes, strawberries, cheesecake and more.

Mitch Is a new street food stand in Carmel market, serving Romanian kebabs. The traditional Romanian dish is served in a pita with Romanian eggplant, chimichurri, salsa, tahina, fried onion and steamed cabbage. There is also a gluten-free option without the pita.

The Turkiz group have opened a second café in Ramat Aviv mall called The Green Grand Café by Turkiz which is a healthier version of Grand Cafe by Turkiz.

Burger mania continues in Tel Aviv, with the opening of Fat Cow by Chef Tom Aviv. The simple menu includes a Basic burger, Cheeseburger with Gouda and the Distracted burger with cheese fondue.

Events

To read previous monthly roundups, click here.

Debbest: June Foodie Roundup

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I am pretty sure this is the busiest roundup I have written so far. With summer in full swing, new restaurants are opening up all over the country. As always, if you like this post, please share it with your friends and let me know what else you want to hear about.

Kosher 

Tourists are always looking for pre-pay kosher restaurants for Shabbat meals.  While some exist in cities around the world, the only option in Israel is in hotels, which is an expensive option. The owners of Carousela in Rehavia are trying to change that by opening Bab Al Yemen on Azza, which is open on Shabbat serving dairy food, following the rules of Shabbat and payment is made either in advance or after Shabbat.  They do not have an official kosher certification, but they will soon have private supervision from Avivit Rabi’a, an experienced kashrut supervisor. Friday night dinner costs NIS 70 and Shabbat lunch is either vegetarian Hamin (NIS 45) or Jachnun (NIS 36).

There is finally a place to get a good slice of pizza in the Jerusalem shuk! Craft Pizza opened a few weeks ago and serves pizza by the slice, with a great flavor and lovely sourdough base. As well as traditional options, they also other tasty toppings like grilled zucchini, beets, kalamata olives, pineapple and chili, and a great spicy salsa on the side. A slice of margarita is NIS 14.

Steakiat Hakirach has opened on Yafo, opposite the open-shuk. The traditional style grill restaurant serves a variety of skewers and other fresh meat on the grill, as well as shawarma, fresh salads and home-made, thin and crispy fries.

Sushibox (Mehadrin) has opened a branch in Mevaseret Zion serving sushi, stir-fry and cocktails. I am excited to try it as there are not enough good kosher sushi places in Jerusalem.

Mixi Salad Bar (Rabbanut) just opened in Sarona Market with a great selection of fresh vegetables, grains and toppings. The medium is NIS 38 and large is NIS 42, both include bread. They also serve toast for NIS 32.

Hadar Market has finally opened in Hadar Mall with 20 food stalls that include Teeras (flavored sweetcorn and baked potatoes); Tostada (meat toast); Bagel Café (Mehadrin); Spaghettini; Burgers Bar; Knafeh Ir David; Burekas; Pizza Pushka; HaSalatia (Badatz); Mexicana; Matilda Ice Cream, Fish and Chips and more. It is open until 10pm on weeknights and to 2am on Thursday and Saturday nights.

Mono Restobar, a Greek Tavern in Airport City, has recently become kosher. Traditional Greek dishes include Pargit, Veal Kebab and Vegetarian Souvlaki, Moussaka and Tarama.

Posa (Badatz) has opened in the industrial park in Yokneam. The street food restaurant is only open for lunch and serves pita filled with various options, such as chraime, Arais and chicken liver.

Gusto di Nonna (Mehadrin) is a local-style rustic Italian café in Mora, Lower Galilee near Karmiel, serving simple Italian dishes.

Azura Tel Aviv is now open in the evening and they have partnered with celebrity Chef Rafi Cohen, former owner of Raphael in the Dan Tel Aviv. Cohen has added some of his signature dishes to the menu, like his cigars, veal kebabs and his pistachio marzipan. Rafi Cohen and Azura owner, Elran Schrefler grew up together in Jerusalem and they are rumored to be opening a new restaurant together.

For those heading to Eilat this summer, check out Jasper 08, a new restaurant-bar in the Isrotel Agamim Hotel, jointly managed by Jasper Johns of Tel Aviv. The spacious lounge bar has a dairy bar menu and varied cocktails and drinks menu.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKkiQ1F8e3/?taken-by=jasper_08_

Bakshish in Jerusalem has closed after just a year in business, it is a shame as the place had potential but it was badly managed.

Not Kosher

The restaurant in Gan Haatzmaut in Jerusalem has changed ownership and is now an Italian restaurant called Tiamo. Although it is open for lunch, the restaurant is more of an evening destination and is open until 2am on weeknights and 3am at weekends, with a bar atmosphere in the late evening.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdHV5YgERt/?taken-by=tiamo.rest

Rama’s Kitchen in Nataf is finally reopening after it was burnt down 18 months ago in a forest fire. The new restaurant is the same farm-to-table concept as the previous one but half the size it was before. Rama herself is in charge of the culinary side and her daughter Ella will manage the restaurant. For now, they are only open for private events but will open to the public sometime this summer.

French style restaurants and bars are opening all over the place, especially in Tel Aviv and Hotel de Ville is the newest offering on Dizengoff, where Café Michal used to be. The gastro bar is from the same owners as Bell Boy and 223. The menu includes French delicacies such as Smoked Tuna Croque Madam, Veal Sweetbread Croissant, Ratatouille Sandwich, Beef Tartare and French Charcuterie, as well as an interesting cocktail menu.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkHf-rLgs1N/?taken-by=hoteldeville.tlv

Zada restaurant has opened in The Drisco Hotel, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World in a 19th-century building. The cuisine at Zada is inspired by the traditional meals cooked for the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire with modern and local influences.

Another French restaurant, Nizza, has opened where Luca e Lino once stood. The menu includes traditional food from the French city of Nice, like Salad Nicoise and Pissaladière, (focaccia style bread topped with anchovies and olives), as well as other dishes including zucchini flowers, rotisserie chicken, pasta arrabiata and 60-days aged prime rib.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjuF-AUjTXb/?taken-by=nizza_tlv

The owners of Bar à Vin and Da Da & Da have opened Café Nordoy in Hotel Nordoy. The menu includes classic European food, like beef tartare, oysters, cacio e pepe pasta and sirloin steak. For now, breakfast is for hotel guest only but it is open to the public for dinner

Anina Italian restaurant from Ramat Aviv has opened a second branch in Shuk Hazafon, serving pizza, pasta, meatballs and other Italian specials.

Faro Italian Eatery opened on the coastal road (kvish hahof – Route 2) in Bet Yanai, just north of Netanya serving pizzas with tomato or cream base, pasta, as well as fish and meat dishes. An Italian style Buffet brunch is served on Friday and Saturday 8:30 to 12:00.

Nanuchka closed at the end of June and The Bun in Carmel Market will close at the end of the year, but the owners will be opening something else in its place, but they have not yet announced what it will be.

Coming Soon 

Naya, a kosher Asian restaurant will soon open in Moshav Beit Nakofa in the Jerusalem Hills. This restaurant is from the owners of Derech Hagefen in Moshav Beit Zayit.

Events

Recent New and Updated Posts

  1. Debbest: Two Nights in Haifa
  2. Debbest: Kosher Sarona
  3. Debbest: Tasting Tour of the Shuk
  4. Debbest: Street Food in the Shuk

 To read previous monthly roundups, click here.

May Foodie Roundup

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Each month when I come to prepare this newsletter I am always surprised at how much news there is. There seem to be some interesting openings this month, especially among kosher restaurants. As always, I would love to hear your feedback and if you want to get ongoing updates, please follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

Kosher

The Jerusalem shuk might be full of bars but most of them are no longer places that people over 30 want to hang out. So I am particularly excited by the opening of Samantha Jones Jerusalem and I hope it will provide a welcome alternative. Named after a character in Sex & the City – the concept is meant to be a bar run by women, with a kitchen that offers female chefs a comfortable place to work, but when I dropped in last week, the chef on duty was a man.  They still have a test menu with a variety of incredibly predictable dishes like beef carpaccio, burger and steak, so I hope that the food is good or that they will develop some more unique dishes soon.

Another potentially exciting addition to the Jerusalem kosher dining scene is Andalucia Cocktail Bar in Kikar Hamusica. It is being advertised as a tapas bar but the dishes are a mixture of Spanish and Middle Eastern and not traditional tapas dishes. For now, the menu is only available in Hebrew and all dishes are NIS 55.

Tel Aviv is also gaining a new Spanish kosher restaurant called Carmen. The owners are North African Jews who moved to Israel from Toulouse and the menu embraces dishes with Spanish, French and North African influences. The chef Maurice Avitan previously worked at Par Derriere and Idelson 10. Starters include grilled spleen and goose liver, while some of the main dishes on offer are Toulouse-style sausages with goose confit and a grilled Rossini burger with a slice of foie gras and wine sauce.

A new Georgian bar has opened in Be’er Sheva named after the Georgian national drink, Chacha. The menu includes various Georgian Hachpuri pastries such as the popular Acheroli filled with melted cheese, egg and butter; Lobio soup and of course lots of alcohol. The bar is Kosher with no hechsher.

Caphé Hanoi has opened a gluten-free and vegan café next door called Bowl & Juice. All dishes are NIS 45 and include hot Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, as well as Buddha bowls, acai bowls, vegan desserts, shakes and cold press juices.

The Sheraton Hotel in Tel Aviv has once again opened Veranda bar by Kyoto restaurant. The terrace overlooking the sea is open Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Friday and Saturday from 12pm until late.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjE5AhIBILZ/?taken-by=veranda_tlv

Chef Meir Adoni has opened a second branch of his street food restaurant Dunya, in central Tel Aviv on Ben Yehuda. Traditional dishes include shawarma, arais, kubeh, sabich, burger and malabi.

Not Kosher

A new uber-cool restaurant has opened in Florentine called Kirkas.  The names of the dishes are all strange play on words but the food itself seems pretty mainstream, like fish ceviche, sweetbread salad and Jerusalem artichoke tortellini.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiWJjMrHc2g/?taken-by=kirkas25

R2M Group (Brasserie, Coffee Bar and Hotel Montefiore) has opened Disco Tokyo in the Herzl 16 compound in Tel Aviv. The concept is not so much a traditional Japanese restaurant, rather a fun restaurant with a Japanese style, as well as many Korean dishes. Menu items include bao buns, beef in Agadashi sauce and Korean dumplings.

Captain Burger (originally from Jerusalem) has opened two new branches. The first is in Tel Aviv on Ibn Gvirol, where Wolfnights used to be, and the second in Hadera.

Café Popular recently opened in Jacob Samuel Hotel in north Tel Aviv, spread over two floors. As of now, only a bar with a dining menu is open on the lower floor, the bistro will open at a later stage and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is owned by four Tel Aviv restaurateurs and the kitchen is run by Chef Avi Bitton, former chef of Adora.

Asia in the Yaffo flea market closed at the end of May, as did Ad Haetzem in Herzliya Pituach after 30 years of business. Ad Haetzem Express branches across Israel will remain in business, including a kosher branch in Raanana and the 12th branch will open in Herzliya Pituach, in place of the restaurant. This seems to be a trend with the move from old-school restaurants, in favor of high-end street food.

Other News and Events

Tel Aviv Cocktail Week takes place 27 May – 2 June 2018. Over 30 bars are taking part including The Norman, Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar, La Otra, Double Standard, and Tailor Made.

Eat TLV will be held in Charles Clore Park in Tel Aviv 29-31 May 2018. The event features food stands from some of Tel Aviv’s best restaurants and all dishes are up to NIS 35.

There will also be a Tel Aviv Cocktail Festival at Hatachana 6-7 June, 2018. Tickets are NIS 80 each and include 3 cocktails.

A new restaurant is opening in Kibbutz Ramat Rachel in Jerusalem called Ben Hamataim. It will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it looks like it will be a coffee shop and a chef restaurant.

Recent Posts

  1. Hotel Review: A charming oasis in the heart of Haifa
  2. Debbest: Cafés and Diners open in Jerusalem on Shabbat
  3. YTK – 24 New Kosher Restaurant Updates from Israel – Q1 2018

To read previous monthly roundups, click here.

Debbest: Cafés and Diners open in Jerusalem on Shabbat

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It is a myth that there are not great places open to eat on Saturday / Shabbat in Jerusalem, you just have to know where to find them.  The order of this list is based purely on my personal preference and is by no means all-inclusive but I would happy to hear your feedback.

Click here to read an earlier post about takeaway and fast food places open on Shabbat.

  1. Zuni

A cross between a diner and a brasserie, Zuni is probably Jerusalem’s only 24/7 restaurant with such a varied menu that there really is something for everyone.  Great for family meals, drinks with friends or sitting alone at the bar.  The menu includes traditional dishes like schnitzel, burgers and various sandwiches and salads but my favorite dishes are the Mac n Cheese and the Croque Madame with mushrooms (melted Emmental cheese sandwich, topped with fried eggs and parmesan). It is a fun option during the day and at night and Zuni delivers but orders are by phone only, full English menu on the website.

Zuni, 15 Yo’el Moshe Salomon Street, 02 625 7776

  1. R&R Diner

As with many places in Jerusalem, the hype is normally better than the reality.  The concept of an American diner in the center of Jerusalem is a good one and although it is nicely decorated, for me the restaurant lacks much atmosphere.  It is neither a diner or a bar.  The menu has a bit of everything and the quality of the food is good but nothing wowed me and all the dishes seem to lack something, so they are not fully authentic. If you are craving a Reuben or Philly Steak Sandwich, Mac & Cheese balls or southern fried chicken then give it a try. They also serve good coffee and the service is friendly and pretty attentive.

R&R Diner, 33 Yafo Street, 02 625 3435

  1. Menza

Although Menza is popular in the evening, I personally prefer the daytime menu including classic dishes like Eggs Benedict for breakfast and Milanesa Veal Schnitzel and Corned Beef Sandwich for lunch.

The bistro-style menu offers a pleasant balance of Mediterranean-inspired and continental crowd-pleasers executed at a gourmet level and creative concoctions that you’d expect at a high-end chef restaurant, as well as original and classic cocktails and wines for every budget.

Menza, 10 Bezalel Street, 02 625 5222

  1. Focaccia Bar

Somewhat of an institution among locals and tourists alike, Focaccia Bar is normally busy both Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The restaurant has an interesting layout with a large covered courtyard. The menu is varied with a number of traditional European and American dishes, as well as various middle-eastern options.

Focaccia Bar, 4 Rabbi Akiva Street, 02 625 6428 – full English menu

https://www.instagram.com/p/BizeyI1FqRp/?taken-by=focacciabar

  1. Link

At one time Link was one of the few places open on Shabbat in Jerusalem and has stood up to a number of Haredi protests.  As with many bistros in Israel, the menu tries to offer something for everyone and is family friendly during the day, while offering a lively ambiance at night. The peaceful courtyard is a perfect place to hang out with friends and family and the inside sitting is nice for a more intimate option.

Link, 3 Ma’alot Street, 053 809 4510 – full English menu

  1. Bolinat

Bolinat differs from many of the other places on this list as you will hear mostly Hebrew being spoken. I suspect that tourists and expats don’t know about it so I hope I am not exposing a local secret!

This wonderful pavement café is busy throughout the week, but especially at the weekend and is open 24/7. The young Israeli staff is friendly and helpful and the bar menu has a surprisingly great choice of snacks and main dishes.

Bolinat, 6 Dorot Rishonim Street, 02 624 9733

  1. Café Bezalel

During the week this tiny café is filled with students from the nearby Bezalel art school and at the weekend it is a popular café for locals to while away the day. The limited menu offers traditional Israel breakfast and shakshuka, as well as more unusual breakfast option like a croissant filled with Gouda and Croque Madame (served with smoked goose instead of bacon). The coffee is also really nice and strong!

Cafe Bezalel, 8 Bezalel Street, 02 625 9164

  1. Etz Café

Finding authentic French toast and pancakes is not an easy task in Jerusalem so it is not surprising that people go to Etz Café especially for those items. They even serve brunch options such as pancakes with poached eggs! The Gouda toast with coleslaw is also pretty good. Open 10am-5pm on Friday and 10am-7pm on Saturday.

Etz Cafe, 3 Yannai Street, 054 248 9178

  1. Karma

If you are looking for a change of scenery on Shabbat, then Ein Kerem is the perfect option. Be warned that all the places are very busy at the weekend so either book in advance or be prepared to wait.  Parking is also limited and parking fines are issued on Shabbat in Ein Kerem. There are a number of places to choose from but Karma always seems to be the most consistent both day and night. The menu is incredibly diverse and the castle-like building has a great terrace with a view over the scenic village.

Karma, 74 Ein Kerem Street, 02 643 6643

  1. Landwer Café, First Station

Although it is a chain, the food at Landwer Cafe is slightly better than most of the chains and the First Station branch is also a convenient option on Shabbat. The service is normally very good and they are also incredibly children friendly. As well as several menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, they also have a good salad and snack menu, which is perfect if you want to get out the house, but don’t want a heavy meal.

Landwer Cafe – David Remez 4, First Station, 02 587 7988

There are lots of other places all over the city including many in the Old City and East Jerusalem eg Austrian Hospice, Borderline & Pasha. Perhaps that will be a future post!

I am working on some other posts about where to eat in Jerusalem on Shabbat, but for now here are the current posts:

Don’t forget to follow this blog to receive automatic updates.

YTK – 24 New Kosher Restaurant Updates from Israel – Q1 2018

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My debut article for Yeah That’s Kosher, features 24 New Kosher Restaurant Updates from Israel for Q1 2018. Click here to read the full article.

Look out for more updates in the months ahead.

Fillet Steak At 5th Avenue Eilat

April Foodie Roundup

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I started a new job last month so I have not had as much time as usual to blog, but between Pesach and work events, I have still managed to eat some great meals. To see more photos from my culinary adventures, follow me on Instagram.

Kosher

Sushi Kebab – east meets west in the Jerusalem shuk. I am not really tempted to try it but it seems to be more kebab in the shape of sushi, than sushi with meat.

Pita Basta opened in April 2018, in place of Fleishman in Sarona Market and the menu has a number of interesting pita options.  I tried the Heavy Pita (NIS 34 – not a typo, their play on words) which was grilled chicken liver, silan, lemon sauce, tahina and other delicious toppings. They also serve a dessert Pita Loti (NIS 10), a crispy grilled pita with nutty chocolate and banana – maybe next time!

Chicho in Sarona Market is now officially kosher. The meatballs always came from a central kosher kitchen but this branch was originally open on Shabbat. They recently decided to close on Shabbat and become certified kosher.

So now there are two great kosher meat options in Sarona Market.

Bastia by Chef Sharon Gabay in the Ra’anana Mall – dishes include freeneh with falafel, arais, and Arab dishes such as freekeh, root vegetables and meat, vegetarian stuffed dishes.

Racha Georgian restaurant is kosher once again.  The original Jerusalem branch was kosher, but it closed in 2016 and reopened in Tel Aviv non-kosher. Less than two years later, they have returned to their kosher status – with a menu, similar to the one they had in Jerusalem, with the addition of some of the dairy dishes, using tofu cheese.  I remember the food to be interesting and tasty, but the service to be temperamental.

Biga in Sarona Market has now become Mehadrin, just like Biga in the Fashion Mall.

Non-Kosher

Chef Raz Rahav of OCD has opened Barvazi Urban Sandwich in central Tel Aviv. Gourmet sandwiches include mac & cheese, baby rib croissant and pineapple and smoked labane.

Groneman 8  is a new café in Ramat Aviv with a selection of healthy sandwiches and gourmet pizza.

Other News

Mateh Yehuda Food Festival takes place over three weekends from April 27 to May 20, 2018. This rural food festival has been held for over 10 years and offers unique events to food and wine lovers.  The festival includes events at restaurants, wineries and private homes which are open throughout the year, as well as one-off events that take place only for this festival. All the information can be found in Hebrew on the website.

Recent Posts

 To read previous monthly roundups click here.

Why is this year different from all other years?

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Pesach Jerusalem 2018

As Pesach approaches, people are usually focused on where they will be able to eat over Pesach.  I normally write a post about places I recommend, but when I sat down to write it this year, I realized that not only was my list pretty much the same as last year (click here for Pesach 2017) but also with a full week of Chol Hamoed, most places are actually going to be open this year so there is more choice than ever.

The only problem that leaves is where can to eat hametz on Thursday night! If you are uber organized like me, then you have booked a table at one of the few nice dairy restaurants that will be closed for Pesach like Anna, or at Cafe de Paris which is closing for good on Thursday.

If however, you have not yet booked something, here is a guide to places that will be open into the night on Thursday, for people to get their last fix of bread!

  • Ishtabach

Shamburak, the Kurdish Syrian pastry filled with meat and vegetables, baked in a stone oven and served with various homemade sauces and salads.  Fillings include Asian chicken (NIS 41), asado (NIS 45) and tongue (NIS 54) and there is also a vegetarian option and some salads on the menu.

Ishtabach (Mehadrin), 1 HaShikma Street, 02 623 2997 – English menu.

  • Hatch

What could be a better way to start Pesach than with a gourmet hot dog and craft beer? They have even created a special dish called “What Hillel Made”.

Hatch (Mehadrin), 28 HaEgoz Street, 02 679 6222.

  • Jachnun Bar

Whether you get a Shakshukalawach, Pizzalawach, chocolate filled Malawach or something else, Jachnun is the ultimate hametz indulgence.

Jachnun Bar (Kosher), 30 HaEgoz Street, 02 566 1919.

  • Pizzeria Flora

Delicious authentic Italian pizza with a crispy base, doughy crust and high-quality ingredients.  Toppings include fresh mozzarella, Italian tomato sauce, rocket/arugula, parmesan, artichoke, egg and zucchini and prices start from NIS 44.  They also serve a great Blue Cheese Salad (NIS 33) with a tangy citrus vinaigrette.

Pizzeria Flora (Dairy – No Hechsher), 2 HaDekel Street, 02 622 2216.

  • Falafel Mullah

Everyone has their favorite falafel place, but my favorite is Falafel Mullah. As soon as you approach the stall, the friendly staff offer a fresh falafel to taste and if you just want a snack, there is always the option for half a pita.  The falafel is Gluten Free but the bread isn’t. Falafel in pita is NIS 15 and in laffa is NIS 18.

Falafel Mullah (Kosher), 82 Agripas Street (corner of Beit Yaacov), 052 843 6476.

Pepito’s will also be open Thursday night with arepas and Latin American sandwiches.

Random Other Pesach News

  • Pasta Basta will be opening for Pesach for the first time, with gluten-free, pesach pasta – with kitniyot. They will be closed all of Thursday and Friday.
  • Scala restaurant in The David Citadel Hotel is Mehadrin for Pesach – full review here.
  • Yonita Cafe in Nahalat Binyamin will be kosher for Pesach
  • If you are in Eilat for Pesach you have to go to 5th Avenue by Chef Aviv Moshe which serves delicious food and has a very cool vibe with a live DJ after 11pm. Karibu by Tel Aviv’s David Ve Yossef in the Queen of Sheba hotel has opened in place of Chicago. Both are kosher for Pesach with kitniyot.

February Foodie Roundup

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There are lots of updates this month so I will keep the intro short. I have changed the format to Kosher vs Not Kosher – please let me know in the comments below if this is helpful or if you prefer it to be ordered by location.

Kosher

There has been a lot of movement on Emek Refaim in Jerusalem recently.  Hayouka BaPita by Chef Aviram Hayouka opened in early December. Waffle Bar has officially closed down. Bagel Café (Mehadrin) has temporarily moved a few doors down while they renovate.  They are also due to open a branch in Kanyon Hadar. Aldo has moved from the small store next to Bagel Café – to the doomed corner of Rachel Imenu.

Netanya has had an explosion of new kosher restaurants.  A few months ago Chef Uri Arnold (owner/chef of Arnold’s) opened a meat Greek Tavern on the beach called Souvlaki. Now, Chef Moshe Segev has opened a second branch of his kosher restaurant called Moshe Segev.  This restaurant follows the opening of Segev’s first kosher restaurant in Beer Sheva a few months ago. The menu is only available in Hebrew.

Chef Meir Adoni has opened a new chain of Middle Eastern fast food restaurants, called Dunya.  The first branch opened in Ramat Hachayal in mid-February and eventually, Adoni aims to bring his food to the whole of Israel, including Nazareth and Rahat. The prices will be higher than most fast-food chains but all the dishes are designed by Adoni himself, using high-quality ingredients.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BepIw5TlWjb/?taken-by=chef_meir_adoni

Atmosphera (Kosher) is a new grill restaurant in Ashdod.  The menu includes a selection of small tapas dishes, Mediterranean style starters, as well as fish and meat main courses, such as baby grouper, green seabass, asado on the bone, a burger with a selection of toppings and various steaks, here is the full English menu.

Babam (Kosher), Ashdod – the trend of smoked meat is spreading around the country and Ashdod is the latest city to open a smoked meat restaurant by Chef Eran Hessel. Items on the menu include hot smoked pastrami, asado, smoke entrecote, goose breast, smoked bone goulash soup and a smoked hamburger.

The Croladin is back for good.  Roladin’s version of the Cronut, is now going to be permanently on the menu and not just for Hanukah.  Fillings include coffee amaretto, pistachio, chocolate, crème patisserie and white chocolate.

Chiripom by Chef Avi Levy has closed in Tel Aviv.  He has decided to focus all his time on his Jerusalem restaurant, Hamotzi.

Chef Aviv Moshe of Messa and Quattro has launched a kosher vegan catering service called Berry Fields. For more information, call 09 955 9544.

Luciana has opened a new branch in Modiin.  The decor looks beautiful, but I hope that the food and service are more like the original Emek Refaim branch than the Mamilla branch.

Eilat has two new kosher restaurants: 5th Avenue by Chef Aviv Moshe is newly kosher and Karibu by Tel Aviv’s David Ve Yossef has opened in the Queen of Sheba hotel, in place of Chicago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bez5exFgMHO/?taken-by=karibu_restaurant

Click here to read my full review of the new Scala restaurant in The David Citadel Hotel.

Not Kosher

After 16 years in business, Argentinian Chef Victor Gloger recently closed Chloelys restaurant in Ramat Gan and has now opened Hola Brasserie (Not Kosher) in the Dan Tel Aviv, where Rafael used to be.  The concept of the new modern European brasserie is to offer a less formal and less expensive menu. The menu features dishes like Tuna Tataki (NIS 56), Pizza Beets & Blue Cheese (NIS 69), Seafood Paella for two (NIS 195). There is also a smoking bar called Barola, with an extensive wine and cocktail menu and bar food. The kosher branch of Chloelys (Kosher) in the Hilton Tel Aviv will remain open.

Chef Omer Miller, the owner of the popular burger chain Susu & Sons (Not Kosher), has opened a pizzeria on Rothschild in Tel Aviv, called Sabba & 300 Rabbits (Not Kosher). Unusual pizza toppings include carrot, pumpkin, pasta, pancetta, osso buco, jalapeno and shredded short rib. They also have a number of sweet toppings for dessert pizzas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BedXPDVhobr/?taken-by=sabba_300_rabbits

Coming Soon

Since Liliyot closed for renovations a few months ago, we have been waiting to hear what the big update will be, well it is even more exciting than expected.  The new Liliyot restaurant will be Chef Eyal Shani’s first kosher restaurant in Israel.  Shani is one of Israel’s celebrity chefs, whose restaurants include, Port Said, North Abraxass, HaSalon and Romano (Not Kosher) in Tel Aviv and Miznon branches in Tel Aviv, Vienna, Melbourne, New York and a kosher branch in Paris.  Shani is most famous for his whole roasted cauliflower and his love of tomatoes. The restaurant will continue to hire at-risk youth and is due to open in early March.

Kosher restaurants by celebrity chefs are becoming a trend in Israel.  Chef Yoram Nitzan will be opening a new kosher restaurant in the David Intercontinental hotel.  Nitzan spent 20 years as the chef of Mul Yam specializing in seafood, until it burnt down in July 2015.  He was also the chef of Bindella Osteria which closed last year.

Recent Posts

  1. A Weekend Getaway in Haifa
  2. Scala Offers Authentic Jerusalem Food in a Hotel Surrounding
  3. Press Exposure for Restaurant Club Jerusalem and Israel
  4. Debbest: Shabbat in Jerusalem – Fast Food

 To read previous monthly roundups, click here.

Scala Offers Authentic Jerusalem Food in a Hotel Surrounding

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The Scala restaurant in The David Citadel Hotel recently re-opened, having been closed for the last two years. The restaurant is off the hotel lounge, on the fourth floor of the hotel and the décor is similar to the overall style of the hotel. The previous restaurant was a fine-dining concept but the new restaurant serves traditional, Jerusalem food using modern techniques.  The hotel chef, Avi Turjeman, designed the menu to be simple and fresh, while offering authentic local food.

We started the meal with a small bowl of deliciously rich and flavorful meat and vegetable soup, which is a winter chef-special, complimentary to all diners.  Next, we ordered the mezze appetizers which are NIS 48 per platter and one platter was more than enough for three of us. The beautifully presented platter, included Warm Lupin Beans with Black Cumin, Smoked Eggplant, Tabouleh, Creamy Hummus with Warm Chickpeas, Crushed Tomato Dip with Green Chili, Tahina, Amba, Schug and wonderfully crispy Green Falafel.  My favorite part of the platter was the bread which was a light and fluffy, savory pancake-like flatbread with a similar texture to an English crumpet.  The bread worked perfectly dipped in the various sauces and wrapped around the falafel.

For the main course, I chose Veal Schnitzel (NIS 75), one of my favorite dishes and hard to find in Jerusalem.  It was a very generous portion and the dish was tasty, but I found the meat to be too thin, which meant that there was more coating than meat and the meat was slightly overcooked.  I also prefer for a veal schnitzel to be served in one large piece, rather than several small pieces.

Veal Schnitzel

I tasted both the Aged Beef Entrecote Skewer (NIS 55 per skewer) and the Pargit Skewer (NIS 48) which were both good but the chicken was my favorite of all the mains.  There is the option to order two skewers or to mix and match, but one skewer was enough for us, especially after the delicious starters.

Two skewers of Aged Entrecote and Pargit, with Grilled Vegetables

All the main courses are served with a vegetable salad and a choice of side dishes, which include Wheat Freekeh and Lentil Majadara, Basmati Rice or Potato and Sweet Potato Fries.  We tried one of each and the mixed fries were the winner, as they were well coated and we especially liked the purple potato variety.

We accompanied our meal with a glass of the house red wine, Teperberg Impression Cabernet Sauvignon (NIS 28/glass, NIS 110/bottle) which was light and fruity wine.

To finish the meal, we tried three of the four desserts on the menu, each cost NIS 35.   My favorite was the Safra Semolina and Coconut Cake, covered in a warm spiced syrup and served with lemon sorbet. The cake was not overly sweet, despite the syrup, and the lemon sorbet, topped with lemon rind, provided a perfect sharpness to the dish. 

The Fruit Salad was served with blanched almonds, mini meringues and topped with cassis sorbet.  The sorbet was wonderfully smooth and flavorful and the meringues and almonds provided a crunch to the fruity dessert.  Lastly, we had the Falooda ice cream with a marzipan and pistachio “cigar”.  The Persian ice cream, made from glass noodles and rose sugar, was not to my taste, but the cigar, which was drizzled with a warm spiced honey, was delicious.

When tourists come to Jerusalem, they want to try local food and too many of the good restaurants in Jerusalem serve everything but Israeli food.  It is refreshing to find a restaurant in a hotel that is finally giving tourists what they want. For Jerusalemites, it is also great to have a restaurant for special occasions that offers a three-course meat meal, with a glass of wine, for less than NIS 200/person.

Scala will be open for Pesach and the chef already has the menu planned.  This year, the whole hotel will be Mehadrin for Pesach only.

Scala Restaurant (Kosher), The David Citadel Hotel, 7 King David Street, Jerusalem, 02 621 2030. Full English Menu, Sunday – Thursday, 18:00-22:00. Parking validation included.