The Exact Point – A Place for Meat (Makom Shel Basar)

In a 100 radius, in the northern tip of Neve Tzedek neighborhood, lay two of the best steakhouses in Tel Aviv (and probably in Israel), NG and A Place for Meat. Though there are enough carnivores in the city to fill the both, there is probably an enormous competition between the two places which constantly receive very good reviews from all around. Strangely enough, until this day we haven’t visited a Place for Meat. And then we did.

As a bold move, unlike NG, A Place for Meat introduces a menu where Steaks are the only main courses. Yes, it might not fit everyone, and maybe it isn’t the whole family classic place, but if it is a good Steak you are looking for, in a very romantic atmosphere as a plus, this is a very good option.

Caeser Salad

We did have some warm-up with starters such as Caeser Salad which was a classic dish that didn’t fill us up too much before the steaks, and the same goes to grilled Artichoke hearts in lemon and olive oil. Both of the dishes didn’t stand up as particularly good, but we didn’t mind as we were there to check whether the steaks are the best in town.

Fillet of Beef

How unoriginal from us, we both picked the same part of the beef, the Fillet of Beef. Usually, veteran carnivores will disregard this part while praise the hanger steak and the more meat-flavored parts, but even though, the Fillet of Beef remains a very popular steak, and we were reminded why. Both of the steaks had the desirable external crust while tender and “al punto” just as we liked. Was it the best steak in Tel Aviv? Probably. The sides, baked potatoes and a famous Tower of onion rings were very good and summed up a great steak dinner at a very lovely place.

Tower of onion rings

The check please (2 people)
Caeser Salad – 42 NIS
Artichoke Hearts – 36 NIS
Fillet of Beef – 2 X 145 NIS
Pepsi – 13 NIS
San Pellegrino  – 14 NIS

All in all – 395 NIS

Summary:

Food: Meat
Price:  Expensive
Location: Neve Tzedek

The Cizer Kobrinsky Scale:

4.5 Forks

Contact Details: A Place for Meat
64 Shabazi St, Neve Tzedek,  Tel Aviv | 03-5296054 |
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 00:00 | http://makomshelbasar.rest-e.co.il

Spring is coming – Popina

Popina

The spring of 2013 is probably one of the more exciting times to be a restaurant lover in Tel-Aviv. Restaurants are opening up in such a rate even we cannot follow. One after the other, like mushrooms after the rain, promising restaurants such as Hannoi, Taizu, Tiger Lili open up and give us the great opportunities eating some fabulous food. It is definitely the Asian cuisine that having its renaissance around town. Popina, on the other hand, a brand new Chef restaurant, is trying to give a different, unique experience. Oh and it does.

The setting, inside a beautiful classic old building, is combining well with early 20’s century village-like Neve Tzedek atmosphere with its exposed stone walls and interesting wine cellar. Nevertheless, its setting is probably the only “classic” or “old” around. Popina is a modern chef restaurant, focusing on innovative kitchen full of techniques and presentations. And it seems like they really know what they’re doing.

Shrimp “Burger”

Starters were somewhat Asian, and probably some of the best we ever had. A Shrimp Burger which came inside steamed bun with aioli sauce was a delicate, perfect dish, and was the star of the dinner. Goose spring rolls in steamed rice rolls and demi glaze weren’t any worse actually and kept a cohesive line of fabulous delicacy. Two other starters of Grilled Calamari with Root vegetables as well as Gin and Tonic Tartar made us feel we are having a really unique and original dinner.

Goose Spring Rolls

Grilled Calamari

The two main courses that came after were really exceptional. Braised Veal Check, a dish rarely seen in chef restaurants, was extremely tender and full of deep tastes, while Sea Drum and Scallop Cannelloni did not disappoint at all.

Braised Veal Cheek

Sea Drum

As it seemed the chef sat right by us on the bar, he noticed we are taking pictures. After asking us what we thought about the food, he did promise a surprising dessert. He actually added two desserts for the two we already ordered, and they were all really wonderful. Strawberries soup with tapioca, tiny lemon tarts, steamed mascarpone cake with berry foam and white chocolate with truffle (!) mushrooms ice cream were all amazing, no other word.

Strawberries soup with tapioca

White Chocolate & Truffles Ice Cream

So yes, we did get two free desserts and no, none of these praises are because of that. Popina is a truly unique place, an oasis of original food at a chef level. Yes, it is expensive for the size of the dishes, but sometimes it is just worth it.

Popina

The Check Please (4 people)

Gin & Tonic Tartar – 64 NIS
Grilled Calamari – 56 NIS
Shrimp Burger – 48 NIS
Goose Spring Rolls – 58 NIS
Braised Veal Cheek – 98 NIS
Sea Drum and Scallop Cannelloni – 115 NIS
Alaska – 44 NIS
Lemon Tart – 42 NIS
White Chocolate & Truffles – 0
Steamed Mascarpone Cake – 0
Coke – 12 NIS
Soda Water – 12 NIS
Tonic – 12 NIS
Water – 12 NIS
Coke X2 – 24 NIS

All in all: 585 NIS

Summary:

Food: Chef Restaurant
Price: Expensive
Location: Neve Tzedek

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

5 Forks

Contact Details: Popina

Address:  3 Achad Ha’am, Tel Aviv | Phone: 035757477
Opening Hours: Daily 18:00-01:00
http://www.rol.co.il/images/sites/popina/menu/english.html

Birthday Present – NG

Green Hill

For a long while Shahar has been dreaming about a good steak dinner at one of the famous steak restaurants in town. His birthday was a good opportunity for me to fulfill his wishes while investigating Neve Tzedek as tourists.

Beef Porterhouse - Before

We started the birthday celebration at G&D Luxury Suites, an old building that was converted to luxury suites. After we unpacked our suitcase, we took a walking tour in Neve Tzedek, looking at the antique buildings and enjoyed the boutique stores.  In the evening, we went outside our room and jumped into NG – the restaurant was literally “across the street”.

Beef Porterhouse - After

We started off with “Green Hill” – salad of chopped herbs with Shrimps and walnut in vinaigrette, a fresh and light dish that left us the exact amount of place we needed for the dinner highlight – 1 KG of Beef Porterhouse, about half of it tenderloin and half strip steak to share, an amazing piece of beef that was cooked to the right point. The beef was served with mashed potatoes, sweet potato chips and spinach.

Chestnut pie - Not the best we had

For dessert we took Chestnut pie with a scope of pistachio ice cream, which was a nice dish but one we could definitely skip.

All in all NG is a place almost perfect at what it does – Beef, while Neve Tzedek experience is perfect at what it supply – a romantic atmosphere.

The Check Please (2 people)

Green Hill – 48NIS
1KG Porterhouse – 270NIS
2X Zinfandel (by the glass) – 56NIS
Soda water – 11NIS
Chestnut pie with Pistachio ice cream – 41NIS
2X Espresso – 18NIS

All in all: 444 NIS

Summary:

Food: Steak House
Price: Expensive
Location: Neve Tzedek

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

4 Forks

Contact Details: NG

Address:  6 Ahad Haam, Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv | Phone: 03-5167888
Opening Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 18:00-01:00 http://www.ngrestaurant.co.il/english/index.html

Morning at Neve Tzedek – Dallal

Our favorite way to spend our time on a Friday morning is breakfast of course. We decided to give ourselves a royal treatment – and eat our Breakfast at Dallal. Dallal is a well-known restaurant located near Suzan Dallal center in Neve Tzedek. Breakfast on the bar should be a real treatment.

Basket of the Bakery's Goodies

Upon arrival to the restaurant we faced the fact that in order to get a royal treatment you have to pay royal money…  Shahar took Dallal’s morning from the Bakery – part of the restaurant in bakery that located nearby. The Bakery’s breakfast included basket of the bakery’s goodies, Prosciutto, Emmental cheese, Anchovies, Tomatoes Tapenade, Eggplant mousse, cream cheese and eggs of your choice (Sunney side up was Shahar’s choice) . The breakfast was more creative than the average breakfast in Tel Aviv and the raw material was of high quality.

Eggplant mousse, , Tomatoes Tapenade and Anchovies

As for myself, I took my favorite breakfast meal – Eggs benedict. Unfortunately, my eggs were cooked too long and were not poached as one can expect from Poached eggs.

Eggs Benedict

While paying our bill we felt that all in all it was a good breakfast nevertheless it was not the best value for our money.

The check please (2 people)

Dallal’s morning from the Bakery – 75NIS
Poached egg – 46NIS
(Cold drink are included in the breakfast price).

All in all: 121 NIS

Summary:

Food: Bistro
Price: High
Location: Neve Tzedek

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale:

3.5 Forks

Contact details: Dallal

Address:  10 Shabazi st., Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv| Phone: 03-5109292 |Opening Hours:  Sunday-Saturday 09:00-1:00 AM | http://www.dallal.info/restIndex3.asp?pageId=56 (English Menu)