Best Restaurants in Jerusalem

[NYRanjer]

Can you please recommend the best places to dine in Jerusalem. We will be going out some nights with kids and some nights without, so I'm interested in both family-style restaurants as well as more upscale options. Thanks in advance!

[Joe Berger]

Carnivores and their families enjoy this place;
http://www.elgaucho.co.il/elgaucho-gr...
Honestly, you should tell your kids you want to spoil them
ahead of your visit, and let them arrange it once you arrive.
"where to eat" gossip is a major topic with kosher Jerusalem'its,
and if you're paying anyway, your kids ideas might be best.

[eyalgottfried]

The Scala restaurant at the David Citadel Hotel is highly recommended. They are serving original Mediterranean cuisines along with a big variety of Israeli's boutique wines.

[elbowsontable]

the area around the mamilla mall basically Shlomtzion HaMalka has lots of old and new kosher restaurants, a sushi place, tomato - thin pizza, kadosh a cafe good for breakfast, lunch and dairy dinner, canala, noya, black a burger chain with the only kosher one there and waffle bar also chochlat. in mamilla there are lots of cafes

[peacepug]

La Guta is my favorite.
Darna is amazing too, 1868 tied.

[entropia]

Koninoor at the Crowne Plaza (Indian, meat)

1868

[zsero]

Kohinoor? Really? I ate there once, and was not impressed. The food seemed bland. Not nearly as good as the veggie Indian places in NYC, let alone the fleishig one that used to be in Queens.

[JudgeMaven]

I am a poor Jerusalemite so I can't really help you with very upscale places (except hearing from word-of-mouth) but I have a few recommendations for some kid-friendly places. Highly recommend the meat restaurants in the Talpiot Industrial area - lots of meat and fries for the kids.

Hummus Talpiot (Yad Harutzim) - 100% Israeli. Hummus plates, Middle Eastern stuff, plus schnitzel and fries.
Steakiyat Tzidkiyahu (Yad Harutzim) - grilled meats on skewers plus 12 different salads that keep getting filled up.
Pinati (HaTenufa, though other locations around town) - Sit-down Middle Eastern.
(All of the above are in Talpiot)
Tal Bagels (Emek Refaim) - Bagels, cream cheeses, salads, bagelwiches, etc.
Eucalyptus (Hativat Yerushalayim/Hutzot Hayotzer) - upscale place focusing on foods and ingredients from the Bible. The places serves chicken nuggets as a kid's meal.

I found this website on kid-friendly places in Jerusalem http://funinjerusalem.com/2009/07/res...

[queenscook]

I very much liked Masaryk on Emek Rafaim. eLuna.com should have a discount coupon for it. There's a good review there, but they only put good reviews on that site. However, Shamash.com also has a few nice reviews of the place, and that's a much more objective site.

[kosherjewishfoodie]

Ticho House on Rechov HaRav Kook (right near the center of town) is a great dairy resturant. Has food for all age groups and a great ambiance (old house and beautiful garden and quiet even though so close to Rechov Yaffo). Japanica is also a great option (near the center of town). There is a BaBa in Talpiot and one on Emek Refaim which has real Israeli food along with amazing Chumus plates.
Also, register at eluna for various coupons to all different types of restuarants all over Israel. You can get anywhere from 10-15% off almost every resturant in Jerusalem, just give them the coupon when you get the bill.
Happy eating!

[lawmann]

I understand that LaGuta has relocated. Their old location was wonderful with great food you don't see in most kosher places.

[JudgeMaven]

La Guta relocated to Derech Beit Lechem 34, and still going strong.

[DebbyT]

Darna or 1868!
If you choose Darna, order the 6 hr lamb! Amazing!

[teachermom]

missed the 6 hr lamb, but sounds interesting....we had two different tagines and the pastilla, which was absolutely incredible. Best part: the waitress pours the tea about 4 feet above the glass, and it's delicious. It's a great place for families because everything is served family style with a lazy Susan in the middle for passing. Man, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

[DebbyT]

We had the pastillas as well...and my husband loved them so much, he ordered them for dessert! We had a wonderful experience there...hope others do too! And yeah...I'm really hungry right now!

[teachermom]

We loved Luciana on Emek Refaim. Delicious homemade pasta. We also had a great meal at Darna--traditional Morrocan with great ambiance and amazing food.

[marissaj]

never went to luciana- heard it is incredible though!

[teachermom]

I had this beet ravioli with goat cheese that I can still taste...
I have never had pasta like that in a kosher restaurant in the US...have yet to go Rome, though.

[MartyB]

Kids didn't want Papagaio (thought all you can eat meat = fattening) so I tried to suggest Korus Steak House; almost convinced one of them telling her she can order the chicken. No dice, finally we agreed on Luciana . I am not a pasta person so I will go for one of the fish dishes.

[marissaj]

macaroni for a handmade pasta experience (dairy)- REALLLY good on king george- can be both family and more upscale...

[JudgeMaven]

Unfortunately, Macaroni is no longer kosher.

[Fetzel]

I would definitely recommend Sheyan for a more upscale experience. They have very interesting and creative dishes that are absolutely delicious!!!

http://www.eluna.com/rest/Sheyan.asp

For a family style eatery, I would go for Cafe Rimon.

[MartyB]

Although I have not tried the Jerusalem location, I did try the Haifa location of Papagaio. All you can eat meats. Nothing like it here in New York with a nice atmosphere.

I will be in Israel in like two weeks and am looking forward to dining there.

http://www.eluna.com/rest/Papagaio_Jm...