Herbert Samuel

My favorite restaurant in Israel so far. I have been there several times, but the food just keeps surprising my taste buds. The atmosphere is trendy and chic with loud Spanish and atmosphere music playing in the background. The people are dressed to the nines, but with best Chef of 2009 the food itself is well beyond the tens.

I started my meal off with a free glass of lambrusco while we waited for our spot at the bar. To kick off our pallets, we ordered an appetizer of Oysters topped with ginger and thinly slices peppers, Julianne style. The presentation was just beautiful and the taste was absolutely perfect for the appetizer, light and refreshing.

The great thing about Herbert Samuel is it's style of food, gourmet Tapas. So naturally, for a couple that loves everything and anything, we decided to taste a bit of a bunch. Following the oysters came gazpacho soup with chopped crab. This was not like any ordinary gazpacho. The soup itself acted as a light sauce that glazed the bottom of th bowl. The sides were rimmed with pureed avocado and topped with watercress and lettuce (yum). But to top it off, the center consisted of a small mound of crab meat tossed in a very delicate sauce. the finish were dollops of goat cheese around the crab. I have never tasted anything like that.

third, a small plate of grilled shrimps tossed in a light yogurt dill sauce and decorated with grilled onions and hot peppers (really hot peppers). It was not my favorite tapas but still wildly impressive.

But the order that really caught us was the home made Gnocchi tossed in a butter and truffle oil sauce and topped with freshly shaved Parmesan cheese on top with some roasted chestnuts thrown in as well. I was convinced I must have done something great in a previous life to be blessed with this meal to taste.

To end the dinner, the lovely and handsome bartenders offered us free shots of vodka, yum. The followed by the rich and heavy cheesecake which I devoured effortlessly. But a surprise ending complimented by the bartenders was very flattering, chocolate mouse serve with a cream puff pastry, unreal.

The meal itself was on of my favorites I have experienced so far in this country, it will be hard to top.

Go to Herbert Samuel for a nice date for two, or a place to impress the parents. This is a place they will keep talking about for sure.

Kosher: no

English menu: yes

Reservations: yes

6 Koifman St (Beit Gibor), Tel Aviv

03-5166516

Ruben

If you are looking for a good Ruben sandwich, this is not the place. However, if you want to taste home made pastrami just like the corner deli's back at home, I recommend Ruben.

Located on the busy corner of Ibn Gvirol and Yehuda Halevi, this small restaurant has great Pastrami. Their sandwiches are a little too simple for my taste. I ordered the pastrami sandwich, whole wheat bread, mustard and A Thousand island dressing, topped with sauerkraut and tomato. in my opinion, it could have been done better but the meat itself was outstanding. However, apart from the meat, the sweet baby pickles that were served on the side really satisfied my appetite.

Although the meal itself was nothing to write home about, the atmosphere was so cute. The shelves are lined with vintage Campbell's tomato soup cans and you even have the option of sitting outside looking out onto Dizengoff.

If you have a hankering for a sandwich, I can give you some other recommendations, but really just go to Ruben for the home made meat.

Kosher: yes

Reservations: no

English menu: no

112 Yehuda halevi Tel Aviv

077-4908050