Street Team Writeup Contest

Would you like to be published on eLuna?
You could be an eLuna author. See your name in lights! Be read by thousands of people! Become famous on every continent!

Choose an eLuna restaurant that you enjoyed and if it has not been written up yet, submit your write up. If your write up is approved by our staff it will be published on the site and with your permission we will credit you by name.

It is not just about fame, it is also about fortune. You will receive a nis 50 voucher at the restaurant when your write up is published.

Bistrot Djoul

Bistrot Djoul (till recently June Bistro) is an excellent French bistro restaurant in the heart of the big city. Owner Julia Berreby has transplanted their family-owned restaurant from Paris to Tel Aviv. The result is a charming culinary trip to Paris, but a lot closer to home. As its name suggests, this restaurant is a jewel. It is also the best kept secret of the French/Israeli community. But the word is now out, and everyone can enjoy this great dining experience.

D'Joul is a deceptively small restaurant. It occupies just a swatch on Ben Yehuda Street, but despite its small footprint there is plenty of seating. First there is the very Tel-Aviv/Parisian-style sidewalk seating. There is also indoor seating in the comfortable air conditioning and additional seating in an upstairs gallery. Street parking is plentiful and legal after 7pm, all along Ben Yehuda Street.

You will know this restaurant by the large mezuza and the teudat kashrut displayed proudly at the entrance - not the most common sight in Tel Aviv . There is also a very cute Netilat Yadayim stand. The decor is clean and simple, and as is popular in French Bistros, the room is decorated with framed mirrors. What's with the framed mirrors, I don't know, but this decorative element appears to be the signature in French Bistro restaurants. The music is French as are many of your fellow diners, which is part of this restaurant's charm.

Eyal Amrousi is the chef at Bistro D'Joul. Remember that name. Eyal has had most of his training on the job. He's a natural talent, further cultivated by restaurateur Julia and her mom. The culinary style is very French. You'll enjoy dishes at this restaurant that you have not experienced in most other Israeli restaurants.

The one-page Hebrew menu - now being translated into English - offers a limited number of intriguing starters, meat-laced salads, fish, meat dishes and desserts. We nibbled green olives and cashew nuts as we perused the menu. Some of the menu items come from the French North African culinary tradition, such as the roast beef served with a sunny-side up egg topped with pickles and mayonnaise. Other dishes, like the Tornado Rousini, described as aged beef fillet with slices of goose liver, are more Parisian.

We started with the Tarte Tomato, one of several vegetarian starters. Out came a platter with a round pizza-like pastry topped with sliced tomatoes and a layer of cherry tomatoes and a hefty green salad on the side. At first glance it looked like just a parve pizza but don't let appearances fool you. The base was a delicious puff pastry topped with a lovely baked sauce and then halved, face-down cherry tomatoes. This is a delicious way to start the meal.

For a main course we chose one of the recommended fish fillet dishes. This dish was unique in that the fish is first baked and then pan-fried. The result is a fillet that is crispy on the bottom and flaky on the top. It is a very tasty dish, served on a zucchini and walnut base, with a green salad and your choice of either potatoes, rice or veggies. I must confess that I had decided on the side dish without even considering the other alternatives. Potatoes Julia, named for the owner and touted in the menu, was a delicious side dish of cubed potatoes well seasoned with herbs.

"What, no dessert?" from Julia. "You must try Savta's apple pie." Who could turn down that invitation. This delicious dessert, nothing like American Apple pie or anything my grandma every made, starts with that yummy French pastry dough. The flat pastry was baked with a sweet sauce and topped with apple slices. This individual pie was served a la mode (who says I have no French?). Just delicious.

You may not have much French, and they don't speak any English, but we all speak the language of good food. This, you will certainly find at Bistrot Djoul restaurant.

Starters: NIS 30 - 40, Meat Salads: NIS 50, Fish: NIS 80 - 85, Meat & Chicken: NIS 90 +.
Sunday night: Piano bar with group singing.

Samne

The new Samne Restaurant on King George Street brings traditional Yemenite flavors to Jerusalem. That is just for starters. In addition to all of the Yemenite delicacies the menu features rich dairy items as well as fish, soups, salads, and quiche.

Yes, Samne offers dairy Yemenite cuisine. This has been missing from the Jerusalem culinary landscape for many years.

The restaurant can seat 30 diners outdoors.

Fabiana

Fabiana is a great Italian restaurant with a warm homey atmosphere, and a dairy fish menu. The pasta is made by hand and sold by weight on the premises.

The Fabiana menu features rich and colorful starters like Tuna Mouse, Eggplant Rolls and brochette. For the entrees you can choose a salad assortment, pizzas, pastas, lasagna, and amazing fish dishes. The desserts are also very special and very decadent. Also on the menu is a breakfast special, made to order every morning.

If you thought the food was the best part at this restaurant, just wait till you pay the bill. The restaurant honors a 50% discount. This, we have to see.

The restaurant has a private room for up to 15 guests, and catering is available for parties of up to 200 guests.

Quattro

Quattro is a gourmet bakery and ice creamery in Neve Tzedek. Goods are baked and prepared in their factory in Hadera and are sold throughout the country. Quattro has now opened a restaurant in Tel Aviv that handles their goods exclusively.

The pastry-chef Lior Edry, is enthusiastic about pampering Tel Avivians with his pastry and chocolates.

Quattro starts early in the morning, with breakfast, made to order daily. The Quattro breakfast, the ultimate way to start the day, includes eggs, cheese, salad, olive tapenade, juice and coffee. The menu continues with sandwiches, pizzas, calzones, and other wonderful Italian delicacies. When you are up to dessert, Quattro really shines. Some of the dessert highlights include White Chocolate Mouse with cashews and pistachios. Out of this world.

Stop in to Quattro Cafe, have a seat and enjoy the yummies, or take home delicious Quattro baked goods and desserts.

The restaurant can host private parties in a separate room for up to 30 guests.

Cafe Nitza

Cafe Nitza has just taken out a French passport!

Previously Yingale Cafe, Nitza has been taken over by experienced restaurateur and French oleh Victor. This cafe is about to undergo some serious changes. Keep your eye on Cafe Nitza as it transforms before your very eyes.

In the meantime you can continue to enjoy the restaurant's excellent dairy menu with a diverse array of breakfasts, sandwiches, toasts, quiches, and pasta. Cafe Nitza also boasts a nice selection of vegetarian dishes.

The atmosphere is enriched by the restaurant’s proximity to the sea, right across the street.

Pastries can be ordered in advance for take-away. There is also a private room for parties of up to 40 people.

Vered Hagalil

Vered HaGalil has attracted folks touring northern Israel for many years. The restaurant has just acquired a teudat Kashrut. Enjoy your visit to this popular destination.

The picturesque restaurant at Vered Hagalil transforms diners from the rustic setting of the Golan to the rolling hills of the American Southwest. Decorated with wisteria outdoors, the stone and pine building is a perfect place to stop in the Golan for a hearty comforting meal in peaceful surroundings. Vered HaGalil is a short distance from Kfar Nachum, along the northern side of the Kinneret.

The menu is eclectic with a focus on traditional American style foods like Southern Fried Chicken, and apple pie a la mode. Other highlights include salads like the Ranch Salad with assorted greens, apples, been shoots, walnuts, and honey citrus vinaigrette. The menu also has a full assortment of steaks like the Fillet served with the house special Diablo sauce. There are also several great fish dishes to choose from like the Baked Trout served with fresh trout baked with, lemon and garlic.

The restaurant offers economical fixed menus and a la carte dishes. The restaurant is open on Shabbat (with a Shabbat menu) to guests of the hotel and to prepaid guests.