A Copy Well Made – La Shuk

La Shuk's Kitchen

The first really good market restaurant in Israel was opened just a few years ago just besides the Machne Yehuda’s developing market of Jerusalem. “Machne Yehuda” is also the name of the restaurant opened by the Chef Assaf Granit and is truly one of the best restaurants in the country (book well ahead). Following the success of the theme, market restaurants were opened as mushrooms after the rain in what seems to be a series of copycats. In “La Shuk”’s case, a well-made copy.

Dizengoff Square

La Shuk, opened just last spring, offers a rustic market setting, sounds that ranges from Israeli rock to Greek and Turkish taverns, and a surprisingly successful location, right below the Dizengof square that is about to go through renovations. Oh, and market food.

We weren’t that hungry, so we have settled for three courses. The smallest of which was Veal tartar which was a nice variation of the classic Tartar. Two toast breads with topped with mustard laid in a glass bowl that contained the Tartar along with a half-cooked egg. The Tartar tasted excellent and the combination, as a whole, was delicious. I was only upset it wasn’t a larger dish. Another combination was a dish of Tabbouleh Salad and Shrimps. In this case, although the Shrimps were cooked OK and were spicy in a good way, there wasn’t any real connection to the salad, that itself was mediocre.

Veal Tartar

Tabbouleh Salad and Shrimps

The last course was Siniyee, which is an Arabic dish that includes ground beef, vegetables and spices on top of oven baked bread. Although this Siniyee was less aggressive with flavors comparing to a “true” Siniyee (we recommend on the Siniyee served at “Al Reda” restaurant in Nazareth), it was tasteful and very satisfying.

Siniyee

A sweet and rich Malabi ended the evening, as we agreed that, although La Shuk seems like another copy of “Machne Yehuda”, it is quite a nice copy that we will probably return to.

Malabi

The check please (2 people)

Veal Tartar – 36 NIS
TabboulehSalad and Shrimps – 47 NIS
Siniyee – 44 NIS
2X Wine by the glass – 56 NIS
Malabi – 28 NIS

All in all: 211 NIS

Summary:

Food: Market Food
Price: Medium
Location: Dizingoff

 The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3.5 Forks

Contact details: La Shuk

 Address:  92 Dizengoff st. (Dizengoff Square), Tel Aviv | Phone: 03-6033117 |
Opening Hours:  Sunday-Thursday 12:00-Late | Friday-Saturday 09:30 – Late
http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=11726 (no English)