News and reviews on the Israel Foodie scene for May.

Now that all the holidays of April are over, we can start getting ready for the summer months and all the amazing new restaurants there are to try on the Israel Foodie scene.  New kosher restaurants this month include a fried chicken restaurant in Tel Aviv, a Greek tavern in Jerusalem, and a Vietnamese restaurant in Netanya. Among the non-kosher openings are a Thai restaurant on Frishman Beach, a food truck complex on the ground floor of the Azrieli Center, and an artisanal pizza restaurant in Kfar Saba.

Please let us all know if you try any new restaurants by sharing your feedback on Restaurant Club Israel or Restaurant Club Jerusalem.

Kosher Restaurant News

• Alaesh Grill is a meat grill restaurant in Modiin from the former owners of Pichonka.
• Chateau Margaux (Ahuzat Margo) is a French restaurant in Beit Josephson, a historical building in Rehovot.

• Dorada is a fish restaurant and lounge bar near the Ashdod Marina.
• Halaveat (Mehadrin) is a dairy restaurant inside Shuk Machne Yehuda by the owners of EatBarach.
• HaShovach (Tzohar) is a neighborhood dairy cafe and deli in the Ramat Israel area of Tel Aviv. The deli sells a variety of own-brand jams and spreads.

• Holy Chicken’s is a fried chicken restaurant on Ibn Gvirol in Tel Aviv. The crispy chicken burger can be ordered with vegan cheese, fried egg, and mushrooms. They also offer Caesar salad, schnitzel, and wings.

• Itta (Dairy not supervised) is a small cafe in Ein Kerem, with a small shop that includes items made by youth at risk.
• Kamilos is a Greek Tavern in Talpiot in Jerusalem, open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Friday for Kabbalat Shabbat.
• Rashel from Ashkelon Marina has opened a branch in Namal Tel Aviv. The lounge bar and restaurant has a Moroccan-themed menu.
• The Pastry Box (Tzohar) is a new Japanese and French pastry shop by Nurit Chitayat in Tel Aviv.
• Viet Taam (Mehadrin) is a Vietnamese restaurant in Netanya serving Pho, Banh Mi, Spring Rolls, Stir-Fry Noodles, and Vermicelli Noodle Salads.

Not Kosher Restaurant News

• 7:1 Lab is a cocktail lab in Tel Aviv that claims to be the first cocktail lab in Israel.
• Coco Thai is a Thai restaurant by MKR contestants Nadav and Daniel. It is located on Frishman Beach in Tel Aviv and replaces Calypso Beach.
• Delicafe by Vivino is a cafe and bakery in Haifa by the Vivino restaurant chain.
• DNA is a culinary complex on the ground floor of the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv, under the culinary supervision of Chef Yossi Shitrit. The complex includes four food stands, two bars, and 400 seats, and is open daily from midday to midnight. The food trucks include:
  • Jai –  Thai food by Chef Tomas Zohar
  • Mezzo Porto – Southern Italian food by Chef Jonathan Sharvit
  • Chicano, Mexican food by Chef Gabriel Israel
  • La Foux Foux – filled croissant buns by Chef Zori Agami.
• Fed & Bev is a tapas bar and restaurant in Nahalat Binyamin in Tel Aviv by Masterchef finalist Chef Shahar Levi. Unusual dishes include “Lag B’Omer” which is a dish of slow-roasted smoky potatoes, served with sour cream and fried crickets!

• Jerusalem Boutique is a hotel and restaurant in East Jerusalem specializing in traditional Arabic food.
• La Kapuza is an artisanal pizza restaurant in Kfar Saba serving Neopolitan pizza.
• Peigam is a local bistro in the artist village of Ein Hod, by Chef Dan Zoarz of Dalida.
• Pizza Karina is a pizza restaurant in Ramat Gan.
• Mood is a dairy fish bar and restaurant in the Now Hotel in Eilat. The restaurant website says it is kosher but the hotel website says it is not kosher.

• Parazain is a tapas bar in the Arab Town of Kafr Yasif near Julis and Akko.
• Tirza is a wine bar in Lewinsky market in Tel Aviv by Chef Raz Rahav of OCD. Despite reporting the opening back in October, it was delayed and only opened in April. This is a great opportunity to taste Chef Rahav’s food without waiting 6 months for a reservation. The wine menu includes approximately 50 wines available by the glass.

Other Israel Foodie News

• Banahala in Nahariya is a newly kosher restaurant in the heart of a Pecan orchard with garden seating. During the day the restaurant is dairy and at night there is a meat menu (using different kitchens).
• Cosmo Politan is a cocktail and tapas restaurant that will be opening soon in Park Cramim in Kiryat Anavim.
• Ein Zivan Farmer’s Market – every Friday, featuring local artisans, including Materello Bakery.
• Eva & Batya cafe has moved from Ramat Yishai to Kiryat Tivon, next to Hanna Senesh Park.
• Hamikdash has moved from Kfar Saba to Petach Tikva.
• I’m Here Because of My Wife (Ani Po Biglal Ishti) has moved from the top of Hillel to the bottom of the street nearer to Mamilla in Jerusalem.
• The owners of Jacko’s Street have announced that they are working on a new secret project – a restaurant and event space in the middle of a park somewhere in Jerusalem.
• Kirsh Cafe on Dizengoff in Tel Aviv is now under Tzohar kashrut.
• Port Cafe in the Caesarea Harbour is now kosher dairy.
• Or Shpitz bakery on Bograshov in Tel Aviv is now Mehadrin.
• Ruhan restaurant in the Brown Jerusalem Hotel is no longer kosher and is now open on Friday night and Shabbat day.

Drink & Foodie Israel Events

• Jerusalem Craft Beer Fair – 11 – 12 May 2022
• Tel Aviv Cocktail Week – 15 – 21 May 2022 – list of bars in English
• Ashdod Nations and Tastes Festival, 18 – 19 May 2022
• Eat Tel Aviv – 23 – 26 May 2022 – food festival in Charles Clore Park – all dishes NIS 40 or less.
• Boutique Wineries Fair, Soreq Winery 27 – 28 May 2022
• Ashkelon Beer Festival, 8 – 9 June 2022
• Salute 2022 Wine Festival, First Station Jerusalem, 29 – 30 June 2022
• Jerusalem Beer Festival, Gan HaAtzamaut, 21 – 22 July 2022

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