Cy Cheese
Where to sit: Rom Farm Bistro, Moshav Cumin
What to look at: Mount Meron ridge - from the sea and almost to the Sea of Galilee. This time we will not elaborate, because the spectacular picture illustrates almost everything - except for the flavors, of course.
What to eat: Rom Farm is a boutique dairy that also offers cheese courses, but there is a kosher dairy bistro garden under the direction of chef Nadav Kornfeld. The place is open from noon until 15:00. The menu is based mainly on fish and cheese with an emphasis on fresh agricultural produce that comes from the region - right from the farm to the plate. The menu with an Italian touch also includes pasta.
To the website
Rom Farm, Photo: Omer Harpaz
Non-stop beach
Where to sit: Sitara, Tel Aviv
What to look out on: The elegant Northern Tel Aviv Citara is located right on the seafront in the Sea & Sun complex and provides diners with a perfect (and we're not just saying) view of the sunset.
What to eat: This is a culinary institution that has existed for almost twenty years and presents a European-Mediterranean menu that draws inspiration from the landscape, as well as the produce, of the Mediterranean. On its menu you'll find dishes ranging from shawarma and sea fish kebabs to sushi – just cast a rod and choose.
To the restaurant's website
Sunset in Sitara, photo: PR
Good morning, Lower Galilee
Where to sit: Lotem Deri Avtalion
What to look after: There's nothing like starting the morning (or afternoon, depending on when you wake up) with a fine Galilean meal that unfolds in front of the green landscape under the azure northern sky - this mehadrin kosher café provides exactly the experience you need. The place is located in the olive press compound of the settlement of Avtalion in the Misgav Regional Council. If you want a rustic and authentic pastoral - this is the right location.
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What to eat: Lotem Deri, the man behind the food court, recently launched a new menu that includes fresh, handmade pastries, salads that have just been picked, egg dishes (what does a "cheese scrambled croissant" sound like to you?), pastas like Galilean pappardelle with portobello, mint and spinach, pizzas and cubans. The place is open on weekdays only until 15:00, and on Fridays until 14:00.
View in Avtalion, photo: Bulldozer
It's not a jungle, it's fresh
Where to sit: A place in the heart, Raanana
What to look at: A place in the heart, defined as a "culinary park", is located in the heart of the city of Raanana in the center of a large, green and pastoral garden. Really a green and inviting lung in the middle of the urban mess (as fresh as it can be in a mess, that is). The vegetables and most of the organic ingredients used in the local kitchen are grown right next door, so the way they are made from the ground to the plate is especially short.
What to eat: The place, which has existed for thirty years, recently underwent a makeover and now presents a new menu and chef (Kobi Katz, Turquoise), as well as a unique concept: in the morning you can sit for coffee, a snack and even participate in a yoga or Pilates workshop, while in the evening a place in the heart becomes a wine garden and restaurant. The menu does change, but we're all for fish kebab risotto, an orange-green pan with salmon linguine, and a selection of salads, sandwiches and breakfasts.
To the website
A Place in the Heart, Photo: Amir Menachem
Maybe you'll stay to sleep?
Where to sit: At the rooftop restaurant of the Akotika Hotel, Acre
What you look out on: the horizon of the Mediterranean Sea, Haifa and the Gulf, and even Rosh Hanikra - everything from high up, in one of the most spectacular locations Acre has to offer. Just keep in mind that in order to reach that lofty terrace on the roof, you will be asked to climb up 46 steps, as this is an ancient building designated for preservation. Just? Well worth the effort.
What to eat: In addition to the new breakfast, which includes stuffed pastries, omelettes, salads and fresh, fragrant hummus, the Ruftoff recently launched an updated sunset menu that emphasizes cold and hot Akko mezes (what they found that day in the market and what was pulled from the sea). The place is kosher under the supervision of Tzahar.
To the website
Akotika,
Just meters from the port
Where to sit: Dunyana, Acre
Still in Acre, Dunyana's spectacular Mediterranean view also focuses on the remains of the ancient Crusader port, built in the 13th century. The restaurant itself is located in the current port of Acre, at the foot of the ancient wall and right next to the waves, which gives the seating there an impressive historical touch that you will not find in too many other places in the country, if at all.
What to eat: Dunyana's new summer menu, created by chef Saher Suleiman, is based on Mediterranean cuisine. It features plenty of delicacies like seared tuna sashimi plus smoked eggplant; beef fillet tartare on a bed of hamra (pepper dip); vegan cheese shishberk; Tagliata, chunks of fillet with olive oil and rosemary and a selection of other dishes from land and sea.
To the website
Dunyana, Photo: Oz Ohayon
Paris and Jerusalem Corner
Where to sit: Brasserie Ein Kerem, Jerusalem
What to look at: If you're lucky enough to get a place on the terrace on the upper level of Brasserie Ein Kerem – especially towards sunset – you won't be able to take your eyes off the green Jerusalem mountains and the city's golden minarets. Complimentary wine-clear mountain air comes along and if you look away from the walls of the restaurant, you'll be impressed by changing artwork.
What to eat: The place offers a varied bistro menu with starters such as blue cheese ravioli and honey; "Leaf blend and marzipan" salad (lettuce, dried blueberries, Pink Lady apple and feta cheese) and intriguing mains such as ballet patties a la maskhan and chicken liver sofrito.
To the restaurant's website
Brasserie Ein Kerem, Photo: David Moyal
We found redemption
Where to sit: Geula Bar, Moshav Takuma
What to look at: Geula is not a propper restaurant, but more of a coffee cart / food track in a pleasant southern rural atmosphere, but the view from it is perfect and the menu is light and strictly kosher. The wagon found a permanent parking spot on the Boyman family's farm, right among the vineyards of Moshav Takuma in the northern Negev. Instead of laid tables, you will find pampering seating areas under the starry sky.
What to eat: Sandwiches, salads, pastries, freshly squeezed juices and of course coffee. Vegan dishes can also be enjoyed here. Who knows, maybe the place will make you want to roll up your sleeves, wave a hoe and join the work of the plot.
Geula Bar,
From South Africa - Coffee in the Negev
Where to sit: Cafe Ronel, Mitzpe Yair, Hevel Yatir
What to look at: The magical and primordial desert landscape of the Judean Desert, right from the edge of Mitzpe Yair - on the seam between the mountain and the desert. If a pampering brunch had been served in Biblical times, it would probably have happened at Cafe Ronel. The place was founded by Ronel, who immigrated to Israel with her family from South Africa.
What to eat: On Fridays, the place offers a dairy brunch from 10:00 to 13:00. During the week the place is open to groups with early registration only. It is also possible to pre-order meat food for Shabbat.
To the website
Cafe Ronel, Photo: Lital Ostrovsky
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