News and Reviews from the Israel Foodie Scene.
As the Israel foodie scene is slowly returning to some sort of normality, it is exciting to hear about more places opening around the country. Of course, there is the inevitability that there are also lots of closings, but not all of them are related to Corona.
Kosher
Dialna Frena Bar has opened on Agripas in Jerusalem, a few doors down the street from Hatzot and Jozef. All the dishes are served in Frena bread (Moroccan bun) and most of the fillings are slow-cooked meat dishes like veal cheek, asado and sweetbreads.
EatBarah (Mehadrin) is a new street food stand in Shuk Machane Yehuda, serving meat cones. Fillings such as schnitzel, asado and entrecote are served inside a thin crispy waffle, with salads and sauces.
Hummus HaNamer is a new hummus store in Shuk Machane Yehuda run by a Jerusalemite who is a third-generation shuk store owner.
Rubida (Tzohar) is a cafe in Mazkeret Batya (near Rishon) in a historic 100 years old stone-building. The menu is a mix of Greek and Turkish food, with fish and dairy dishes. Rubida is currently open until 8 pm on weekdays and Friday morning and afternoon.
Mama Julie (Mehadrin) in Shuk Tzafon is a Moroccan home-cooked style restaurant. Julie is the sister of Jackie Azoulay from Master Chef, who used to have a restaurant in the same location.
Not Kosher
BBQ TLV is a smoked-meat restaurant in the Old Train Station in Tel Aviv from the owners of Pitmaster in Petach Tikva. The menu includes sausages, short ribs, brisket, spare ribs, lamb and burgers. Side dishes include fries, mac and cheese and garlic bread. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday, 7 – 11 pm and is self-service with picnic tables.
The newly opened Hotel Bobo by Brown Hotels in Tel Aviv, has a rooftop restaurant and bar called Meli Melo, under the guidance of Chef Meir Adoni. The restaurant features a cocktail menu and has a DJ on certain nights.
Merloza Carmel is a fish restaurant in Shuk HaCarmel. The menu includes fish and cheese dishes, as well as vegan options.
If like me you are a big fan of Chef Sharon Cohen’s Shila and Café Europa restaurants in Tel Aviv, you will be excited to learn that he has opened a wine bar called Jango directly opposite Shila. Similar to Shila, the food menu focuses on fish and seafood.
Studio Cafe is the latest opening from the owners of Tel Aviv’s popular Fu Sushi restaurant. The cafe has a varied menu, including various breakfast choices, salads, soups and traditional mains, as well as an extensive sushi menu.
The pita bar trend continues with the opening of Hinawi BePita on Carlebach Street in Tel Aviv (not connected to Hinawi in Yafo). The menu includes various meat fillings such as Arais, kebab, entrecote, merguez, chicken thigh, butcher’s cut and fillet steak.
Lola Martin is a fish restaurant in Herzliya Pituach from the owners of the recently closed iconic Jacko Sea Food restaurant Haifa. The complex comprises a fresh fish shop, a small fish & chips stand, as well as a sit-down restaurant. The menu caters to a younger market than Jacko did but still includes some classic dishes from Jacko such as seafood paella and garlic butter shrimps.
Dolce Pizzaiolo is a Neopolitan style pizza restaurant in Raanana serving traditional Italian pizzas with a few Israeli toppings like tahina, pickled lemon and sabich.
Bar Italia is an Italian restaurant facing the beach in the West Lagoon Resort in Netanya. The menu features homemade pasta and 72-hour pizza.
Closings
- Bino Pita, Tel Aviv
- Blue Sky and Lumina by Meir Adoni in the Carlton Tel Aviv. Rumor has it that the decision was made because the Carlton wanted the space for their own events and the closure was not Corona related.
- Boccaccio, Tel Aviv
- Cafe Louise, Haifa
- Cafe Nimrod chain has closed but the branches in Beer Sheva, Rishon and Agmon Market are remaining open under a new name.
- Hiro Ramen Bar, which was founded by Chef Israel Aharoni, has closed the last two branches in Sarona Market and Ramat Aviv. Aharoni left the company over a year ago.
- Jacko Sea Food restaurant in Downtown Haifa. The restaurant closed so the owners can focus on their new restaurant Lola Martin in Herzliya.
- Meat & Wine, Herzliya Pituach
- Medzzo, Herzliya Pituach Marina.
- Michmoret and Casino de Paris in Shuk Machane Yehuda
- Muza Bahar, Shoresh. The closure is not related to Corona.
Other Israel Foodie News
There are now food trucks in parks around Jerusalem. The food trucks include Segev Burger, Agadir Burger, Burgers Bar, Pizza Home and Gvinazz. It is not clear if there is a schedule for the trucks but it is organized by the
13 streets around Jerusalem become pedestrianized certain evenings and Friday afternoon to allow for more outdoor tables and chairs for restaurants. Here is a list of all the street closures around Jerusalem.
De Yaffa in the Flea Market in Yaffo hosts an Arabic food fair every Friday from 11 am to 2 pm. The fair features home-cooked Arabic food such as meat or vegetarian stuffed potatoes, peppers and cabbage.
Chef Meir Adoni is hosting a pop-up at Claro in Sarona of his former restaurant Catit on 20, 21, 27 and 28 July.
Israel Foodie Events
- Hamitbahon Food Truck complex is now open Thursday evenings
- AutoOchel, AmphiBagai, Jerusalem: July & August 2020 (Tues, Wed & Thurs, 6 – 11 pm)
- Salute Wine Festival, Jerusalem: 11-13 August 2020
- Cocktail Festival, Marina Herzliya Pituach: 22-23 July 2020
- Succot Wine Festival, Tel Aviv: 7-8 October 2020
- OpenRestaurants, Jerusalem: 17–21 November 2020
- Terravino Wine Competition: November 2020
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