Heartwarming specials, pampering meals for lovers only, reddish and juicy sweets, magical locations and great deals. Ahead of Tu B'Av, the most romantic day of the year on August 1, the best restaurants and chains across the country offer couples treats. You? All that's left for you to do is decide where to jump this coming Tuesday. Remember: those who eat alone (usually) go to bed alone.
Miliou
It's going to be an evening of great love, fine wine, good food – and a culinary summit. On Tu Be'Av evening, chefs Hai Tsarom and Lior Sheba ("Chef's Games") will be hosted at Milio Wine Bar (Dizengoff 141, Tel Aviv) and will serve a nine-course tasting dinner for two (and two desserts!).
Some sample dishes: tuna tartare tartare with garlic aioli and anchovies for opening; sea fish carpaccio, figs and feta cheese for intermediate; Ravioli for birch, olive oil and hyssop for main; and brown butter ice cream, airy chocolate and passion fruit caramel for dessert. First seat from 18:00, second seat from 20:30. 200 NIS per person, price does not include wine matching.
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Here are some of the specials of the Safra restaurant (Hamada 18, Rehovot), created by Chef Benny Madar in honor of Tu B'Av: tempura cod (spicy matbucha, Shabbat challah and lemon aioli); beef tartare (gratin with textures of black and white eggplant and quail egg yolk); shine on the bone (whole fried, ramold and herb dip); and foie gras (on basbosa, olive oil powder, chestnut cream). Kosher.
A dish at the Safra restaurant // Photo: Anatoly Michaelo
Nina Bianche
Did you choose to celebrate Tu B'Av in Nina Bianka (Bussy St. George 9, Kiryat Ekron, Bilu compound)? You should come prepared and reset in advance on the list of specials: eggplant shishberk (goat yogurt, tomato broth and za'atar – 88 shekels); cheese balls and anchovies (63 NIS); and beetroot risotto (beets in confit, beet broth, pine nuts and labneh – 61 shekels). All this – plus you will also get roses and chocolates that will be distributed to all guests of the restaurant. Kosher.
Jacobs Bakeries
We don't know about you, but we love our Tu Be'Av as sweet as possible – and with as many carbs as possible. This is where the Jacobs bakery chain comes in, with a collection of custom-made pastries and packages for a celebration of love (and lots of berries). Among the drums offered: berry tartlet; Brest Heart Pie filled with white chocolate and berry shonots; marzipan and raspberry croissant; Tart St. Honoré Raspberry; Eclair, berries and more. Kosher.
JAJA
How do you say in Italian, "You got a piece of cheese stuck between your teeth, but it just makes you even more perfect"? In honor of Tu Be'Av, the Neapolitan food bar, JAJA (Rothschild 86, Rishon LeZion), offers the limited edition Amore Italiano pizza, consisting of crème fraîche, Luciana cheese, manchego, smoked onions, portobello mushrooms, roasted cherry tomatoes and basil – on a unique dough that will rise for 72 hours (NIS 64).
Monnier
In Monnier Catering's Sweet Dreams double package you will find tartlets in a variety of flavors, truffles, petit fours, financiers and puffs that will give you a romantic, sweet and dreamy evening. Now we'll just see you give up to your other half, and let him snack on the last treat left in the tray. Alone. Corner. Good luck with that. 188 NIS. Kosher.
How romantic. A couple eating together, Photo: Getty Images
Meat Time
We hope you're hungry, because the new Meat Time restaurant in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market was prepared for Tu Be'Av with a special menu that includes a six-course meal for two: homemade bread with dips; cigar fish bream; pani puri (dumplings stuffed with beef fillet tartare); hunter's share (Denver Cut skewer alongside truffle puree); carnivorous duet (beef fillet medallion and lamb chop alongside steamed vegetables and grape honey); Coquilida dessert and a glass of red wine from Jerusalem Wineries. 250 NIS per person. Reservations are required. Kosher.
Silo
Get the three Tu Be'Av specials of Italian Silo (Shimon Peres Park, Holon), which will undoubtedly make you blush: Amarana Polenta Salad (polenta crotoni, Lalik lettuce, apples, pecans, sherry, red onions, picorino and Amarana vinaigrette); salsice from the tabun (spicy Italian sausage, roast potato, chimichurri and spicy mustard); and risotto di mare (bream, risotto, saffron, pumpkin, butter, parmesan and asparagus).
Primo
Now get the romantic specials of Primo, the Italian food bar and Silo's little sister, located right next door: lamb chops on charcoal (rata potato, lemon spinach cream); asparagus tagliolini (garlic, sage, lemon juice, butter and parmesan); Malfati ragu (fresh pasta, root vegetable broth, decomposed ontrib meat, beef broth and mushrooms); And for dessert – Sicilian cannoli with ricotta cream, figs and berries.
Tatti & Ilan's
Every time you buy at Tatti & Ilan's, you will receive a postcard and a cloth ribbon with the inscription "You who loved my soul", on which the name of the loved one must be written, and tied tightly. Assuming that tinkering will make you hungry, the chain is launching a special edition of personal heart-shaped butter cookies filled with strawberry jam for Valentine's Day. Kosher.
Boqueria
Boqueria, the Italian from Petach Tikva (17 Yitzhak Rabin Road, Yachin Center Complex), raises a special menu for Valentine's Day, reddish and pampering. A few glimpses: cherry sashimi (slices for shine, cherry coli sauce and white wine vinegar – 68 shekels); beetroot ricotta ravioli hearts (in beetroot and basil cream sauce – 72 NIS); beetroot pizza and goat cheese (beetroot cream, mozzarella, goat cheese, walnuts and basil – 72 NIS); And for dessert – an upgraded Red Velvet cake with layers of raspberry cake and cheese cream (48 shekels). Kosher.
Okinawa
That's what we call a sea of specials. The Tu B'Av menu of Japanese Okinawa (Levontin 11 and Shabazi 46, Tel Aviv) is called UMI – "sea" in the language of the Land of the Rising Sun. Chef Roy Sofer has created a special menu based on pure fine fish, and on Tuesdays starting at 18:00 you can bring up dishes such as sashimi intias (chimichurri, coriander and ginger – NIS 58) in your romantic fishing rod; ceviche leche de tigre (chunks of bream, melon, red onion and chili oil in prickly sauce – 62 shekels); and salmon sarada (salad with chunks of salmon, bean noodles, purple cabbage, kohlrabi, mangoes, herbs, chili and candied cashews – 58 shekels).
soho
Come and taste Asian love in Soho (Moshe Becker 15, Rishon LeZion) with a variety of specials from the Far East: tuna tartar on wasabi leaves (79 shekels); Tempura fried roll and red tuna topping, seasoned with soy kozi (79 shekels); and a skewer of beef fillets alongside creamy mashed potatoes and charred vegetables in Demi Glass sauce (180 shekels). Dishes will be served on Tuesday throughout the day.
Just choose where to go. A couple in a restaurant, photo: Getty Images
A place in the heart
Free wine in a pastoral atmosphere alongside delightful specials? We're in! On the evening of Tu B'Av, between 18:00 and 19:00, the Makom Lev restaurant in Ra'anana (Pardes Joint 5) will serve free wine – free of charge and unlimited – against a particularly romantic backdrop. And if you've already arrived and entered the atmosphere, you are invited to savor salmon ceviche, carpaccio and a special dessert, all of which were cut/shaped/prepared in the shape of a heart. We said lovely specials, didn't we?
Tree Brasserie
Terry Brasserie (Herzl 194, Rehovot) invites you to celebrate the most romantic day of the year under the ancient mulberry tree in the restaurant's courtyard (they say it's 130 years old, but we didn't count), and enjoy a menu of specials full of aphrodisiac such as almonds, saffron, truffles and figs. A selection of examples: local sirloin tataki (with fresh pineapple chutney); sea bar tartare (yellow sherry gazpacho and peaches); crispy lettuce salad (blue cheese, plum vinaigrette, nectarines in saffron syrup, sumac and roasted Italian almonds); handmade fettuccine (in truffle butter and white wine, wild sea fillet, drops of tomato butter and basil oil); and baby lamb chops (in red wine sauce, beef broth and onion shallots, and asparagus).
ORGADO
One thing is for sure: the Tu Be'Av special menu of the Jerusalem bistro ORGADO (Jaffa 110, Mahane Yehuda Market) will not leave you hungry. For 700 NIS per couple you will enjoy 10 (yes, 10!) double dishes such as deconstructed lamb frixa (in homemade teriyaki sauce); liver feta (sabella raspberry, glaze, blueberry, basil and bruschetta); beef fillet (bone marrow, onion crispy, sweet potato cream, gnocchi in shallot butter and thyme); Sea fish fillet (tahini-amba sauce) and vegan mascarpone cream for dessert. It will be served from 19:00. Kosher.
Greek living room
The Greek Salon chef tavern chain is putting together a menu of specials for Valentine's Day that will make you shout "Yasu!" For NIS 300 per person, you can choose from tuna spicy tartar on Greek yogurt and pita gyros, stuffed mini-sinia and Greek Tirupita pastry (filo dough filled with cheese) for starters; fish mix (sea bar steak, bream fillet and vegetables in josper), salmon souvlaki or spankorizo (Greek spinach risotto) for mains; And all this plus a selection of openings, a watermelon mojito cocktail and a plate of sweets for dessert. Kosher.
A dish at a Greek salon restaurant // Photo: Shiran Cohen Shai
Mina Tomei
We've always been taught that love doesn't have combines, but the Asian Mina Tomei chain has a Tu Be'Av combination for two, which includes three rolls with "sensual" ingredients such as passion fruit and mango. For $180, you get eight units of Passion Roll (salmon, tamago, asparagus, berries and tobiko, wrapped in white fish and garnished with blackberries, chili rings and passion fruit sauce); eight units of mango salsa roll (avocado, cucumber and shiitake, wrapped in kiwi and topped with mango salsa); and eight Jungle Rolls (salmon skin, mango, cucumber and scallion, garnished with red tuna, salmon, avocado and white fish). The combination is served at the branches only.
Conmigo
Conmigo's romantic tasting dinner (13 Ridge Boulevard, Modiin) that will be served on the eve of Tu Be'Av includes five courses – bread, starter, intermediate, main and dessert. Some glimpses of the menu: sashimi for shine on mango cream; entrecote skewer on burnt kohlrabi carpaccio and chimichurri; Shaitel cubes with cauliflower cream and demi glass whipped cream; and a dessert of pistachio cream, meringue fragments, raspberry juice pearls and berry macaron. First seat from 19:30, second seat from 21:00. Kosher.
A dish at the Conmigo restaurant, photo: Meital Solomon
Roots
The Roots Levantine cuisine in Acre (Weizmann 1) will celebrate Valentine's Day with a selection of specials, including grilled bruschetta (pickled salmon, beets roasted in pomegranate juice, pickled onions, vegan yogurt and rajila – NIS 56); fisherman's rice (mussar chunks and fried onions seasoned with turmeric root and spices from the market, roasted sea bream fillet, peas, whipped vegan labneh and herbs – 132 NIS); And a special romantic dessert: crème brulee with strawberry and cardamom, red fruits, roasted pistachio, strawberry and lime marmalade and lemonmint sorbet (48 shekels). Kosher.
Rapallo
Leave one day of love – how about five full days? The Italian restaurant chain Rapallo, which operates four branches in the north, celebrates Tu Be'Av Ad... August 5 with a selection of specials such as sea fish ceviche (roasted challah, spicy sour cream, oregano, cracker mix and micro coriander – NIS 36); artichoke a la romana (crème fraiche, mint and parmesan carvings – 32 NIS); and a spritz cocktail specially concocted for Valentine's Day – Rosa Biancolita (white vermouth, red grapefruit, tonic and raspberry powder).
Confectionery chain SHEMO
How much does Mickey Shamo love you? Just check out his confectionery chain's collection of sweets for Tu Be'Av, and decide for yourself. On offer: Eclair with the inscription I Love You (NIS 19); a heart-shaped opera cake consisting of three types of chocolate (NIS 19); Milpay Heart dessert (caramelized puff pastry, patisserie cream and chocolate ganache – NIS 29) and red heart cake (based on white torte with white chocolate mousse and a layer of strawberry/raspberry coli with red coating – NIS 150). Kosher.
Mena for Mickey's Tu B'Av Shmo // Photo: Israel Alfassa
Serafina
Serafina, Yaki Kabir's Tel Aviv Italian (Einstein 10), presents a special menu especially romantic for Tu Be'Av, where watermelon carpaccio (white fish, Bulgarian cheese, melon, red onions, celery and almonds – 78 shekels); Cheese tortellini on pumpkin cream (in butter and lemon sauce, with refreshing saladon – 72 shekels) and caramel crème brulee for dessert (43 shekels).
Fat Vinny
First and foremost – couples firsts for distribution. Italian diner chain Fat Vinny is teaming up with the San Pellegrino water brand and launching a series of appetizers suitable for two ahead of Valentine's Day. Snack equally: Bruschetta Stracella from the Tabun (Maggie tomato salsa, basil, oregano and olive oil, served alongside Strachatella cheese, pine nuts and shata pepper – NIS 39); white fish crudo (gently pressed bream, celery, red onions, chili, olive oil, tomato seeds and butter, served with bruschetta and a slice of lemon – 44 NIS); Baby Jam salad (colorful lettuce, arugula, nectarine, roasted almonds, candied pecans, mustard vinaigrette and parmesan – NIS 49); And.
Vanillia ice cream chain
No, "rumzi" is not (necessarily) a nickname for your spouse, but rather Vanilia's new ice cream flavor for Tu B'Av – raisin rum, of course, where rum and raisins blend together in natural harmony, just like a pair of lovers (or something like that). The flavor also boasts a twist you won't find at other chains: candied hazelnut fragments. Because every relationship has to enjoy some spontaneous, crispy action, right? 19 NIS per serving.
Pommo, Bar Italia and Napo Cafe
Chef Shahar Barnea's three locations – Pomo (HaBarzel 11, Tel Aviv), Cafe Napo (HaDuvdevan 7, Kiryat Ono) and Bar Italia (Sderot Oved Ben Ami 113, Wert Hotel, Netanya) align with a selection of specials that will be offered on Tu Be'Av evening, including fig sashimi (white balsamic, basil oil, chili and mascarpone yogurt – 78 NIS); Fig mascarpone dessert (decoise fragments, fig coli – 68 shekels) and "señorita" cocktail (strawberry, gin, egg yolk, lemon, prosecco and raspberry crunch).
Bar Italia, Photo: Shiran Cohen Shai
Psagot Winery
Meet Levana and Rosie – the pair of sparkling and "wild" wines that are launched at Psagot Winery especially for Tu B'Av. Why wild? Because the winery, we are told, has developed a unique fermentation time process that takes only 30 days (compared to about three years in the traditional method), and the bubbles embedded in the process are used to emphasize the flavors of the fruit and vineyard (especially since a small part of the yeast residue remains in the bottle).
Anyway, White, 12% Alcohol, 100% Chardonnay 2022, presents aromatic properties of pears, pineapple, lemongrass and... lemon pie (95 NIS); And Rosie (bubbly rosé), 12% alcohol, 94% Chardonnay and 6% Merlot 2022, boasts expressions of peach, strawberry and white flowers, with a finish of lemon meringue. 95 NIS per bottle.
Burger King
Love a lot (but a lot) of ketchup with your burger? Burger King and Hinch ketchup join forces for Valentine's Day, and you have the chance to win an annual supply of the famous tomato dip. How does it work? Order up to 10.8 for a meal for two at Burger King, and get a scratch card that will allow you to win a serving of fries – or a supply of ketchup for a whole year: no less than 24 bottles of 650 grams. The offer is not valid at airport branches (but you don't have to complain, because whoever is there flies on Tu Be'Av anyway, and we're just writing about it).
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