Israel Restaurant Openings and Foodie News for December.

Life in Israel has not gone back to “normal”, however, people have generally accepted that we need to find some sort of balance. Most businesses are open as normal and more and more tourists are coming on solidarity missions to volunteer and support the Israeli economy. As a result, most restaurants in Israel are back open, and there are some new Israeli restaurant openings to report. I am also happy to share that there are no restaurant closings to report this month.

I would still like to remind everyone that we need to give restaurants some extra patience and kindness, as there is still a lack of staff and a reduced supply of certain ingredients.

If you try any restaurants in this update,  please share photos and a review in Restaurant Club Israel‘s Facebook group.

Kosher Israel Restaurant Openings

• Croc Toast Club is a food stand in Ganei Tikva by Chef Israel Aharoni serving meat toasts and hot dogs.

• Denver (Mehadrin) is a steak house in Jerusalem in place of Medita on Derech Hevron.
• Minnie is a bakery and deli by the entrance to the Dan Caesarea Resort which is open to non-hotel guests.
• Noor is a meat Druze restaurant in the Galilean village of Julis owned by IDF widow Basma Henno. The restaurant originally became kosher to provide food for soldiers but has now decided to remain kosher. Noor is the only kosher restaurant in Julis, which is a predominantly Christian village. On Tuesdays, the restaurant will still only be open to provide food to soldiers.
• Oscar is a meat bistro & bar in Azrieli Center Holon open for lunch and dinner. The varied menu includes scotch eggs, Padron peppers, salmon tempura, and Asado sofrito.

• Salon Yevani is a Greek dairy restaurant by Chef Guy Peretz in the Daniel Hotel in Herzliya Pituach, in place of 4 Sea. This is the sister restaurant of Salon Yevani Ashdod in the West Boutique Ashdod.
• Wingz is a fried chicken fast-food restaurant in Givat Shmuel owned by new olim from LA. The restaurant serves chicken sandwiches, wings, tenders & burgers, with homemade sauces.

Not Kosher Israel Restaurant Openings

• AB – CD is a cocktail bar and restaurant in Tel Aviv by Chef Loy Halabi from the last season of Game of Chefs. The menu focuses on Mediterranean Druze food.
• Bake Shop By Vicky Burstein (Dairy Unsupervised) is a bakery hidden inside the Burstein Coffee Store in Netanya.

• Bar Maimon is a local bar on Rambam Street in Tel Aviv serving bar snacks and pizza.
• Brasserie 22 is a French restaurant in Petach Tikva from the owners of Meyer House Hotel, Bordeaux Wine Bar, and Robina in Tel Aviv.
• Buncha is a Vietnamese restaurant in Talpiot Market in Haifa.
• Cassata is an Italian gelato and wine bar in Park Hamesila in Tel Aviv (next to Beit Romano) by Chef Eyal Shani. The gelato is made freshly every day so flavors vary. Dairy flavors include campfire marshmallow, sage butter, and Earl Grey, and vegan flavors include cinnamon almond, blood orange, and toasted rice.
• Chacho’s Cafe specialty coffee shop has opened a second branch on Rehov Gordon in Tel Aviv.
• Delicatessen by Ruti Brudo has opened a branch in the Ne’ot Afeka area of Tel Aviv. As well as the usual takeaway food, there is a  small sit-down menu and a large terrace.
• Guido is an American Italian restaurant in Tel Aviv with a range of pasta, zitti, meat, and seafood dishes.

• Kululu is a cocktail bar in Petach Tikva with a bar food menu. A happy hour with 30% off the menu applies on weeknights from 5 to 7 pm.

• PizzaPizzaPizza (PPP) is a Neapolitan pizza restaurant in South Tel Aviv. It is possible to eat at the store but the pizza is also designed to be reheated at home.

Other Foodie News

• Branja restaurant in Miami by Israeli Chef Tom Aviv has won the Eater Best New Restaurant in Miami award.
• Cafe Gan Sipur has a Sachlav menu for the winter.
• Lehrhaus Jewish restaurant in Boston is the first kosher restaurant to be included in the Esquire magazine’s 50 Best New Restaurants in America Awards.

Israeli Foodie Events & Festivals

• Soup Festival at The Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem – Sunday – Thursday, 12 to 10 pm, NIS 87 for unlimited soup and bread
• Terravino, 25 Januray 2024
• Sommelier, Hechal HaTarbut Tel Aviv, 1-2 April 2024

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