Coffee Bar
13 Yad Charutzim, Tel Aviv. Tel. +972-3-688-9696
Decorated with marble tables, 19th century gas lamps, banquette seating and other warm, classic touches, Coffee Bar has created an atmosphere that is casual yet wonderfully fitting for a brasserie. The food offerings are equally suited to this style. Grilled sausages, Greek style shrimp on skewers, hamburgers, beef fillet and mussels – a taste for every palette. Coffee Bar also presents a good wine list and a good staff.
Open daily 09:00-24:00; Saturday from 12:00.
Evening reservations are recommended.
Cavalier
1 Ben Sira St. Jerusalem +972-2-6242945
Seafood, Bistro, Chef Restaurant, French food, Gourmet
Since his restaurant opened six years ago, Chef Didi Ben Arush has worked to consistently combine the best of French cooking with the tastes and smells of the Mediterranean. Complimenting the food are Cavalier’s lightly formal but relaxed atmosphere, a well-trained service staff, aptly chosen decorations and an excellent wine list. For the main course, critics recommend tasting the veal brains, salmon fillet or the coquilles St Jacques to get a feel for the chef’s creative and delicious mix of food groups. The crème brulee and hot chocolate fudge cake are also highly recommended from the high quality dessert list.
Pastis
Rothschild 73, Tel Aviv. Tel +972-3-551-550773
(Mediterranean Bistro)
Whether sitting inside or on the patio, you will find Chef Eyal Lavi’s restaurant to be a delight. The service is warm, matching the location’s relaxed and almost-homey atmosphere. Lavi’s natural flair for both seafood and French flavorings will surely delight every guest. For dessert, make sure to try the very unique ginger flavored vanilla ice cream. Prices are reasonable, especially given the food quality and restaurant’s upscale atmosphere.
Open daily 11:00-23:30.
Uri Burri
Lighthouse Square, Acco. Tel 972-4-955-2212
In spite of its unique location in a 400-year-old stone building straight out of the Ottoman-era, the focus of this restaurant is food and not atmosphere. Uri Burri has no background music or wall decorations and dishes will often arrive tableside in the pans in which they were cooked; but with chef/owner Uri Jeremias around, the minimalist décor will never take away this restaurant’s charm. Uri has a Santa Claus-like appearance; he makes regular table visits, and offers a chef’s menu using only the freshest Mediterranean fish for consistently creative dishes. Jeremias has no formal culinary education; and he only wrote his unique recipes down when asked to publish a cookbook. In essence: this is a restaurant run by and for those with a love of food.
Ali Oli
Brenner 2, Tel Aviv Tel. 972-3-528-1378
Offering wonderful tapas, an easy-going atmosphere that enables casual drinking or dining and a variety of Spanish dishes, Chef Antonio Mensa’s restaurant maintains a loyalty to the principle of Spanish eating. Tapas are the house specialty, but you can do no wrong with any choice found on the rather interesting menu. From crabs and shrimp to vegetarian appetizers and a variety of fresh fish and meats, the tasty menu offerings leave no question as to why this is the late night meeting place of Tel Aviv’s chefs. Ali Oli has an excellent selection of wines from all over Europe and Israel with prices that are reasonable.
Monday- Saturday 12:00-02:00. Reservations are recommended.
Idi
6 HaBosem, Ashdod. Tel. 972-8-852-4313
This family business has been running out of Ashdod for 20 years now. Idi offers a colorful menu, complete with appetizers, fish dainties and a variety of seafood. All fish is the freshest possible, arriving at the restaurant daily. The décor is that of a wooden ship, filled with pictures and memorabilia sharing the unique folklore of seamen. The authentic atmosphere is even more apparent if you visit Idi on a Thursday, when the restaurant hosts a weekly evening of Mediterranean folklore, including a Greek singer and band, public singing and an overall joyful atmosphere.
Stuzzi
Sederot Rothschild 60, Tel Aviv. Tel. 972-3- 566-5655
Italian, Pizza
This casual Italian restaurant provides Tel Aviv diners with the best taste and variety of genuine Tuscan pizza and pasta. The thin-crust pizzas are a local favorite with toppings that are as varied as they are delicious. Also of note are the Pappa al Pomodoro, a Florentine bread, and the Mozzarella in Carrozza, a deep fried sandwich of mozzarella and bread. Desserts here are also tasty and the wine list is sparse, but with quality options.
Open daily 12:00-24:00.
Darna
3 Horkanus. Jerusalem 972-2- 624-5406
Morrocan, Kosher.
Darna is a traditional Moroccan restaurant offering a genuine atmosphere and menu. The tables are set with beautiful clay, silver and brass serving plates; guests will sit on colorful pillows and couches imported directly from Morocco. The food includes a Cornish hen-filled pie called pastilla, lamb tagines and couscous, all of which are well seasoned with a wide-variety of spices. For patrons with a taste for spicy food, be sure to try the harissa hot sauce that Moroccans add to soup and couscous. Traditional Morroccan desserts are also not to be missed.
Manta Ray Alma Beach, Tel Aviv. Tel. +972-3-517-4773.
Fish and Seafood
With its attractive beachside location, and talented chef Ruby Portnoy in the kitchen, Manta Ray is possibly the most traditionally Mediterranean restaurant in Tel Aviv. The appetizers here are a must-have, along with the thick rosemary flavored foccaccia bread that is served to every table. All of the seafood dishes are tasty – and certainly will go well with either beer or a bottle of wine. If the short wine list does not fulfill your desire, guests are able to bring their own bottle along. Both the atmosphere and service at Manta Ray are slightly informal and casual in their presentation.
Open daily 10:00-24:00. Evening reservations are recommended.
Onami Sushi Bar
Rehov Ha'arba'a 18, Tel Aviv Tel. +972-3-562-1172
Japanese
This popular Japanese restaurant falls stylistically somewhere between traditional Japan and modern-New York. With its high ceilings, a large and central sushi bar and a menu that mixes conventional sushi with more creative Japanese dishes, Ali Grossman has continued the tradition he began 10 years ago in introducing Japanese food to Israel. While the wine list is good, Japanese beers are also recommended as suiting all food varieties, regardless if your choice is udon noodles, quail eggs or one of the maki combinations. This is known to be one of the very best Japanese restaurants in Israel.
Open Sunday-Thursday 12:00-16:00 & 19:00-01:30; Friday-Saturday 13:00-01:30.